SAN MARCOS, Texas — The trio of Anna Jones, Claire Ginder and Dani Elder will join the Texas State University softball program, head coach Ricci Woodard announced Friday afternoon. 

"We are so excited to add these three young ladies to our program this Fall," Woodard said. "All three of them are playing this summer in the Florida Gulf Coast League, so it's obvious they love the game and continue to work to improve their skills.

"We feel they will be additions that will help keep our program competing at a high level."

Jones, a Deer Park native, returns to the Lonestar State after signing with Louisiana State University (LSU) out of Lutheran South Academy. In 33 career games, including eight starts, in a Tiger uniform, Jones collected five hits in 23 plate appearances, scored 12 runs, drew four walks and drove in three runs. 

Last season, Jones scored at least one run in eight of her nine appearances for LSU, including games against Louisiana, Missouri, NC State and Arkansas. The year prior, she had run-scoring hits against Washington and Campbell. 

"Anna is a versatile athlete that will be able to make an impact immediately in the infield or the outfield for this team because of her offense," Woodard said. 

Ginder, a Lithia, Fla., native, joins the Bobcats after signing with Furman University out of Newsome (Fla.) High School. In her lone season as a Paladin, Ginder slashed .266/.385/.514 with eight home runs and 22 runs batted in in 109 plate appearances throughout 41 starts. Two of her home runs during the 2021 season came in a doubleheader at the University of Tennessee. 

Ginder helped the United States U-17 National Team to a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games. She also batted .400 with a .538 on-base percentage to help the United States to an 8-0 record and a berth in the 2020 WBSC U-18 Women's Softball World Cup. 

"We are excited to add Claire to the middle of our infield," Woodard said. "She will be fun to watch both offensively and defensively due to the different levels of softball she has already played during her career." 

Elder comes to San Marcos following a four-year career at Texas A&M University, where she appeared in 94 career games and saw her name in the starting lineup 77 times. She slashed .253/.370/.471 in 170 career plate appearance and hit a career-high six home runs, drove in 18 runs and touched home plate 15 times herself. 

Last season, Elder collected at least one hit in a three-game stretch against Ole Miss and Kentucky. She had a season-high two hits in three trips to the plate at Alabama, too. In the Aggies' trip to San Marcos on April 6, 2021, Elder had a hit, walk and run scored in three plate appearances. 

"Obviously, Dani's experience playing four years in the SEC is something that brings an added level of excitement about her addition to the program," Woodard said. "We will look for her to add depth on the corners and possibly see some time behind the plate, if needed." 

Woodard and the Bobcats are coming off a 2020 season that saw Texas State finish with a 39-14 record and a berth in the Austin Regional of the NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. The postseason appearance was the team's fourth in their last five full season.