MAYFIELD, Ky. – Mid-Continent University softball coach Christa Franklin has signed her first recruit for the 2014 campaign, plucking an infielder from northern Mississippi to help solidify an infield that will lose four players from this years club. Haley Barnes of Corinth, Miss. signed on Friday, March 29, becoming the first player to commit to coach Franklin's 2014 class.

Barnes, a 5'8" second and third baseman, comes to Mid-Continent after finishing her high school career at Alcorn Central High. There, she earned honors in both fast-pitch, and slow-pitch softball, grabbing all-division honors in fast-pitch as a sophomore, and in slow-pitch as a junior. Also as a junior in 2012, Barnes was voted Best Infielder on her ballclub. This season, as a senior, Barnes is off to a red-hot start, hitting .515, reaching base at a .559 clip, and slugging a blistering 1.121. She has knocked in 11 runs on the young season, and has a pair of stolen bases as well. Barnes will be a part of a new era in Mid-Continent softball, as the Cougars leave the dissolving TranSouth for the American Midwest Conference next season.

"We are thrilled to have Haley joining our MCU softball program next season," Franklin remarked at the signing. "We have big plans for [Haley], and we look forward to [her] helping us reach our goals of winning a conference championship and making our first trip to the NAIA National Tournament since 2002."