As a softball pitcher for the Austin Peay Governors, senior Kelly Mardones brings a broad background earned at Creighton University and Tyler Junior College.
At Sanger High School under coach Jae McMinn, Mardones was selected as All-District Pitcher of the Year three times and during junior year was the Texas Sports Writers Association All-State Honorable Mention, according to her college bio.
Landing at Tyler Junior College after high school, the 5-foot-11 Denton, Texas, native joined Creighton University under Brent Vigness, the softball head coach. As a sophomore in 2017, Mardones honed her game under coach Maria Winnat Tyler Junior College and was designated National Junior College Athletic Association third-team All-America.
At Austin Peay beginning in 2018 (her junior year), Mardones started 25 times and was chosen to the All-OVC All-Newcomers Team. Against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Feb. 26 of that year, she achieved a personal best five strikeouts and helped the team vanquish Rutgers on March 17, 2018. Her 2019 stats show six assists in a March 19 game versus North Alabama and a season-best eight strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched.
