Karley Shelton commits to the University of Tennessee out of the transfer portal. (Photo Credit: Karley Shelton)Tennessee softball lands South Carolina transfer Karley Shelton
Karley Shelton, a career .314 hitter and one of the best defenders in Gamecocks history, becomes Tennessee softball's first transfer addition.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee softball and head coach Karen Weekly received the first transfer commitment of the cycle from former South Carolina second baseman Karley Shelton.
Shelton comes in with one year of eligibility remaining after starting three years for the Gamecocks. She started 155 of 171 games played. Shelton brings a career slash line of .314/.388/.472 with 12 home runs, 95 RBIs, 39 doubles and 105 runs scored on 157 hits.
2026 was her best season, as she hit .345 with an OPS of .946, 7 home runs with 40 RBIs. She led the team with 16 doubles and 68 hits and scored 33 runs. Her 7 home runs were the most she’s had in a season. The numbers show more pop in her swing, as 10.9% of her fly balls left the yard, compared with just 5.4% the year prior.
Shelton brings more than a solid plate presence. In her time in Columbia, S.C., her defense at second base was considered some of the best in program history. She owns a .978 career fielding percentage (first in South Carolina SEC history for a second baseman) with 252 putouts, 277 assists (fifth in South Carolina SEC history for a second baseman), and just 13 errors in 542 total chances.
Her single-season marks back that up as well. In 2024, Shelton turned in the second-best fielding percentage for a second baseman in program SEC history at .991. In 2026, she posted a .981 fielding percentage.
Shelton should be a nice boost to this Lady Vols team at the plate and in the field, after the departure of Ella Dodge.
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