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The Rockets welcome six transfers to the roster ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
Photo by: Ellen Holton
Toledo Announces Signing of Six Transfers
8/27/2026 9:31:00 AM | Softball
Rockets bring in six transfers to join the 2027 roster
TOLEDO, Ohio – Toledo softball head coach Jessica Bracamonte announced the signings of Cara Edwards, Taylor Fitzgerald, Jessica Miller, Madison Rishel, Karman Rowe and Emma Thomas to the program as transfers today. All six players will join the Rockets for the Fall 2026 semester.
Edwards and Rishel are coming from other Division I programs, Miller and Rowe are joining from Division II programs and Fitzgerald and Thomas are heading to UT from junior colleges.
"This is an experienced and accomplished group that we're extremely excited to add to our program," said Bracamonte. "They've competed at a high level, they understand what it takes to be successful and they bring a hunger to continue growing. We believe their experience and competitiveness will make our team better immediately and we're excited to welcome them to the Rocket family."Â
The following is a look at the six transfer student-athletes:
Cara Edwards | Junior | Catcher | San Jose, Calif. | Archbishop Mitty | Boston College
Edwards competed in 26 games and earned 19 starts throughout her sophomore season at Boston College. She recorded a .340 on-base percentage with eight hits, five RBIs, five runs scored and nine walks. She helped the Terriers claim the Patriot League regular season title and four-peat as conference tournament champions. Edwards competed at Cainsius in her freshman season, earning MAAC All-Rookie Team accolades and started in 32 contests. She tallied a .288 batting average with 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs, six homers and 24 walks. In high school, she served as captain of the Great Britain 18U team while also playing with the Great Britain National Team and Great Britain 22U squad.
Taylor Fitzgerald | Junior | Outfield | Elk Grove, Calif. | Elk Grove HS | Sierra College
Fitzgerald saw action in 38 games throughout her time at Sierra College, tallying a .377 batting average in her lone season. She recorded 49 total hits, a mark that ranked seventh on the team and included seven doubles, a team-best five triples and one home run. Fitzgerald also plated 37 runs and drove in 22 RBIs while owning a .954 OPS. In the field, she recorded a .967 fielding percentage, made up of 56 putouts, two assists and two errors.
Jessica Miller | Junior | Outfield | Perrysburg, Ohio | Perrysburg HS | Tiffin
Miller stared in 107 games throughout her two seasons at Tiffin and led the team in batting average, runs, triples and slugging percentage in both seasons. In her freshman campaign, she set the single-season record for doubles (25) and led all of NCAA Division II. She earned 2025 G-MAC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and First Team All-G-MAC accolades in addition to NFCA First Team All-American and D2CCA Second Team All-American honors. In her sophomore season, Miller brought home First Team All-G-MAC, D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team and CSC Academic All-American accolades.
Madison Rishel | Junior | Outfield | Strongsville, Ohio | Strongsville HS | Fairleigh Dickinson
Rishel started in 93 games throughout her time at Fairleigh Dickinson and was named to the All-NEC First Team in both seasons. During her freshman campaign, Rishel led the team in batting average (.398), hits (70 – a single-season program record) and stolen bases (17) and was named the NEC Rookie of the Year. In her sophomore season, Rishel led the squad in batting average (.374), runs (37), on-base percentage (.458) and OPS (.855). She also earned CSC Academic All-District honors after the 2026 season.
Karman Rowe | Junior | RHP | Villa Park, Ill. | Willowbrook HS | Central Missouri
Rowe appeared in four games at Central Missouri and tallied a 2-1 overall record in the circle throughout her sophomore season. In her freshman campaign at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Rowe competed in four contests, earning three starts and posting a 1-0 record. She had a save against Wellesley and recorded a career-best eight strikeouts against Salem St. She tallied three all-conference selections in high school and had over 415 career strikeouts in her three year varsity career.
Emma Thomas | Junior | RHP | Overland Park, Kan. | Shawnee Mission East | Lake Land College
Thomas appeared in 54 games throughout her two seasons at Lake Land College, totaling an overall record of 26-9. She fanned 187 batters through 219.1 innings of work and tossed 17 complete games. In her freshman season, Thomas had a 2.01 ERA and a 12-6 record. She earned 19 starts in 30 appearances and struck out 115 batters. In her sophomore campaign, Thomas recorded a 1.67 ERA through 24 appearances for a 14-3 record. She tallied 72 strikeouts and threw 104.2 innings, including six complete games. Â
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Edwards and Rishel are coming from other Division I programs, Miller and Rowe are joining from Division II programs and Fitzgerald and Thomas are heading to UT from junior colleges.
"This is an experienced and accomplished group that we're extremely excited to add to our program," said Bracamonte. "They've competed at a high level, they understand what it takes to be successful and they bring a hunger to continue growing. We believe their experience and competitiveness will make our team better immediately and we're excited to welcome them to the Rocket family."Â
The following is a look at the six transfer student-athletes:
Cara Edwards | Junior | Catcher | San Jose, Calif. | Archbishop Mitty | Boston College
Edwards competed in 26 games and earned 19 starts throughout her sophomore season at Boston College. She recorded a .340 on-base percentage with eight hits, five RBIs, five runs scored and nine walks. She helped the Terriers claim the Patriot League regular season title and four-peat as conference tournament champions. Edwards competed at Cainsius in her freshman season, earning MAAC All-Rookie Team accolades and started in 32 contests. She tallied a .288 batting average with 18 runs scored, 14 RBIs, six homers and 24 walks. In high school, she served as captain of the Great Britain 18U team while also playing with the Great Britain National Team and Great Britain 22U squad.
Taylor Fitzgerald | Junior | Outfield | Elk Grove, Calif. | Elk Grove HS | Sierra College
Fitzgerald saw action in 38 games throughout her time at Sierra College, tallying a .377 batting average in her lone season. She recorded 49 total hits, a mark that ranked seventh on the team and included seven doubles, a team-best five triples and one home run. Fitzgerald also plated 37 runs and drove in 22 RBIs while owning a .954 OPS. In the field, she recorded a .967 fielding percentage, made up of 56 putouts, two assists and two errors.
Jessica Miller | Junior | Outfield | Perrysburg, Ohio | Perrysburg HS | Tiffin
Miller stared in 107 games throughout her two seasons at Tiffin and led the team in batting average, runs, triples and slugging percentage in both seasons. In her freshman campaign, she set the single-season record for doubles (25) and led all of NCAA Division II. She earned 2025 G-MAC Player of the Year, Freshman of the Year and First Team All-G-MAC accolades in addition to NFCA First Team All-American and D2CCA Second Team All-American honors. In her sophomore season, Miller brought home First Team All-G-MAC, D2CCA All-Midwest Region Second Team and CSC Academic All-American accolades.
Madison Rishel | Junior | Outfield | Strongsville, Ohio | Strongsville HS | Fairleigh Dickinson
Rishel started in 93 games throughout her time at Fairleigh Dickinson and was named to the All-NEC First Team in both seasons. During her freshman campaign, Rishel led the team in batting average (.398), hits (70 – a single-season program record) and stolen bases (17) and was named the NEC Rookie of the Year. In her sophomore season, Rishel led the squad in batting average (.374), runs (37), on-base percentage (.458) and OPS (.855). She also earned CSC Academic All-District honors after the 2026 season.
Karman Rowe | Junior | RHP | Villa Park, Ill. | Willowbrook HS | Central Missouri
Rowe appeared in four games at Central Missouri and tallied a 2-1 overall record in the circle throughout her sophomore season. In her freshman campaign at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Rowe competed in four contests, earning three starts and posting a 1-0 record. She had a save against Wellesley and recorded a career-best eight strikeouts against Salem St. She tallied three all-conference selections in high school and had over 415 career strikeouts in her three year varsity career.
Emma Thomas | Junior | RHP | Overland Park, Kan. | Shawnee Mission East | Lake Land College
Thomas appeared in 54 games throughout her two seasons at Lake Land College, totaling an overall record of 26-9. She fanned 187 batters through 219.1 innings of work and tossed 17 complete games. In her freshman season, Thomas had a 2.01 ERA and a 12-6 record. She earned 19 starts in 30 appearances and struck out 115 batters. In her sophomore campaign, Thomas recorded a 1.67 ERA through 24 appearances for a 14-3 record. She tallied 72 strikeouts and threw 104.2 innings, including six complete games. Â
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