RENO, Nev. - Nevada Softball dips into the transfer portal for the first time this summer to bring Sparks native Hailey McLean back to the Truckee Meadows. 

McLean joins the Wolf Pack after two strong seasons on the Utah State pitching staff, including a record-setting freshman season. Across her two years with Utah State, McLean appeared in 45 games for the Aggies, totaling 139 innings pitched and 186 strikeouts. The right-hander recorded a 9-14 record with a 5.34 ERA for Utah State including six complete games and a shutout. 

In McLean's college debut, she broke the Utah State record for strikeouts in a game, tossing 20 strikeouts in nine innings against Cal State Bakersfield. McLean continued to strike out her opponents through her freshman season, totaling 154 strikeouts, tied for the fourth most in a Utah State season. 

When playing at Spanish Springs high school in Sparks, McLean was named the Gatorade Nevada Softball Player of the Year in 2021 whilst winning the NIAA 5A Northern Region Championship. McLean was also tabbed as the Northern Nevada Female Athlete of the Year by Nevada Sports Net during her senior season at Spanish Springs. 

McLean joins the Wolf Pack in the program's first season under new Head Coach Victoria Hayward. Hayward, a former assistant coach and star player at Washington, looks to continue the Wolf Pack's success from the 2024 season.