The University of Texas softball program has officially welcomed Kaydee Bennett with an Athletic Scholarship Agreement (ASA) to join their team, announced by Longhorn head coach Mike White on Saturday. Bennett, a versatile 5-foot-6 player capable of playing both infield and outfield positions, brings an impressive collegiate record. Starting her career at Texas A&M – Commerce in 2023, followed by the 2024 season at Abilene Christian, Bennett has maintained a career batting average of .377 (101 hits in 268 at bats) across 93 games, with 92 starts. She has consistently led both her former teams, the Lions and Wildcats, in batting average, hits, runs scored, on-base percentage, and walks during her tenure with each program.
Bennett comes to Austin boasting an impressive career slash line of .377/.451/.507, accumulating 136 total bases from 101 hits. She has scored 61 runs and driven in 20 RBIs. Additionally, Bennett has displayed a keen eye at the plate with 31 career walks and a stellar base-running record, stealing 33 bases in 36 attempts for an outstanding 91.7% success rate.
In 2024, Bennett, hailing from Caddo Mills, Texas, earned Academic All-WAC honors and was recognized on the All-WAC First Team and NFCA All-Pacific Region Second Team. During her time as a Wildcat, she demonstrated exceptional performance at the plate, boasting a .425/.500/.637 slash line in 146 official plate appearances. Bennett accumulated 93 total bases, including 62 hits with 18 extra-base hits (nine doubles, five triples, four home runs), scored 41 runs, drew 20 walks, and drove in 14 runs. She also showcased her speed with 15 stolen bases in 17 attempts.
As an All-Southland Conference performer as a freshman playing for the Lions in 2023, Bennett slashed .320/.390/.352 in 122 official trips to the dish. She totaled 43 bases along with 39 hits — four of which went for extra bases (four doubles) — while scoring 20 runs, drawing 11 walks and driving in six runs. She was also near perfect on the base paths by successfully stealing 18 bases in 19 attempts. She also excelled in the classroom, too, by being selected to the President’s and Dean’s List as well as the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.
In just her second career collegiate softball game, Bennett set a career high with a three-hit performance against Northern Kentucky on Feb. 10, 2023. She went on to match that hit total seven more times: against CSUN on March 4, 2023, New Mexico State on Feb. 10, 2024, Houston Christian on Feb. 16, 2024, South Dakota on Feb. 24, 2024, UTSA on March 5, 2024, UTA on April 21, 2024, and Grand Canyon on May 3, 2024.
At Caddo Mills High School, Bennett was a three-time first-team all-district standout in softball, while also being a district champion and a regional finalist in four track events. She also set the school’s kills record en route to earning all-district honors in volleyball.
Bennett is the daughter of Melissa and Kyle Bennett.
