Bucs’ senior outfielder has battled injuries to become one of softball’s top players

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (March 23, 2016) – Perseverance. That one word best describes ETSU softball player Madison Boyd’s (Chattanooga, Tenn.) career at ETSU. Boyd, who came to Johnson City from a very successful prep program in Chattanooga, has battled injuries throughout her career and now in her senior season has blossomed into one of the top players on the team.

Boyd’s journey to ETSU began long before she put on an ETSU uniform as her sister Ashley played softball for the Bucs from 2008 to 2009.  

“My sister played here for a few years so I got to see what ETSU was like as a school and as a program,” Boyd said. “Once the coaching change was made and Coach (Brad) Irwin was hired I knew then that this is where I wanted to be.”

Unfortunately for Boyd, who joined the program as a player in the fall of 2012, she had a rocky start to begin her career, as she failed her physical and had to undergo surgery. Because of the surgery, Boyd missed the entire season.

“That was tough,” Boyd said. “Not even getting through the first day and not being able to help my teammates on the field was the most difficult part.”

After appearing in 20 games in 2014, Boyd seemed to be getting her career going until midway through 2015 season when she was involved in a car accident. Boyd suffered a concussion as a result of the crash and missed the rest of the season.

Following two major injuries that derailed two of her three seasons as a Buc, Boyd entered her final season in the Blue and Gold with a renewed motivation to make an impact.

“I did everything I could to keep myself healthy over the summer and so far so good,” Boyd said. “I just wanted to give my team a full season.”

Boyd has certainly delivered on that goal so far this spring as she leads the team in batting average (.425), slugging percentage (.725), hits (17) and RBI (13). The senior outfielder points to her experience as a key factor in her success.

“I think a large part of my success is because I’m a senior,” Boyd said. “Having been in the program for four years, I care deeply about it. This is my last season and I want to win not only for me but also for the rest of my teammates.”

With that notion in mind, Boyd and the rest of the Bucs have seen quite an improvement in 2016. ETSU ranks in the upper half of the SoCon with a .293 team batting average and lead the conference with a 2.75 ERA. Boyd thinks the Bucs have all the talent to keep that momentum heading into conference play.

“I think we need to stay focused on the positives,” Boyd said. “That has been fairly easy to do since we have seen some success early in the season, but we need to continue that when we hit adversity. If we are able to do that, I think we will have a successful season.”

The notion of staying positive is something that Boyd is undoubtedly familiar with and is a prime example of being #ETSUTough. That toughness from Boyd and the rest of the Buccaneers has the ETSU softball team looking to make waves in the SoCon this spring.

By Andy Fisher
ETSU Athletic Media Relations