Softball Signs SEC Star, Ole Miss Grad Jessica Puk
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Head coach Trisha Ford announced the addition of utility player Jessica Puk to the Arizona State Softball program for the 2021-22 season on Thursday.
Puk, a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, comes to Tempe as a Southeastern Conference standout with four seasons at Ole Miss. The graduate transfer served as Ole Miss Softball's team captain in 2021, one of the many accolades on her resume.
"We're so excited to welcome Jessica into the Sun Devil family," Ford said. "She has a ton of elite softball experience and that offensive power we love at Arizona State. Jessica also brings some much-needed depth, and we're proud to add a proven leader to our roster."
The captain played many roles on the field with Ole Miss, notching time at left field, second base, and catcher. She boasts a .259 career batting average at the plate with some Sun Devil-Esque hitting power at the plate. Since her sophomore year in 2019, Puk started every game for the Rebels, marking 149 games through her four-year Rebels career. Puk is also no stranger to the postseason, playing on three NCAA Tournament teams since her freshman season in 2018.
Pitchfork is already on point ??
Welcome to the Sun Devil Family, @jessi_puk! pic.twitter.com/uCwrO3f3nS
— Sun Devil Softball (@ASUSoftball) June 10, 2021
In 2021, Puk helped lead the Rebels to the championship game of the Tucson Regional in the NCAA Tournament. She hit .263 in her senior season while tallying 32 RBIs, ranked third on the team, topped with 34 runs and six home runs through 58 games in 2021. Puk collected eight multi-RBI games, including two games with more than five.
Puk was off to a hot start in 2020 before the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She started all 25 games at either designated player or outfield and finished the season on a 13-game reached base streak, the longest on the team. In addition, Puk led the Rebels with 16 RBIs and posted a .324 batting average, the third-highest on the team.
As a sophomore, Puk started all 61 games, primarily at second base. In 2019, she batted .250 with a .366 on-base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage. She drove in 41 runs with ten multi-RBI games, both second-most on the team. Puk excelled at the long ball in her second season as her nine home runs ranked second on the team.
Puk's trophy case boasts awards as a 2019 SEC Spring Honor Roll member, 2018 First-Year Honor Roll member, and a 2018 NFCA Easton Scholar-Athlete.
Puk is the first player the Sun Devils have added to their roster since the conclusion of the 2021 season. She joins fellow first-year Sun Devils with the incoming freshman class of pitcher Mac Morgan, infielder Cydney Sanders, and catcher Liliana Thomas.
Follow the newest Sun Devil, Jessica Puk, on social media:
Instagram: @jessipuk
Twitter @jessi_puk