For senior catcher Abi Stuart, softball isn’t just a game or a sport, it’s a lifestyle. She has showcased her undeniable perseverance and dedication in her six years with the program battling back from injuries and playing whatever role is necessary for the team to succeed. Not a stranger to success, Stuart came to Clemson after attending Southern Alamance High School in her hometown of Snow Camp, N.C., where she won the conference championship three times while also making the All-Conference team all three of those years. In addition to this she won conference player of the year in 2017 while Southern Alamance finished third in the state after she played a huge role in the team’s success.

Joining the program right out of the gate, Stuart began her Clemson career in 2020 appearing in 14 games and helping the team achieve a 19-8 overall record while posting a 5-1 finish in ACC play in the first season of the program. The season was eventually cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but this was just the beginning of the team’s success.

My role has definitely changed a lot. In year one, everyone was new to both Clemson and the college landscape, so it was really different because we were basically all freshmen. I definitely feel like I have grown as a leader as the years have gone on, especially as I enter my sixth year with the team. I’m more confident in my leadership role and direction that the program is going.

This leadership has certainly been on display for the team as Stuart has helped the program achieve a record of 189-64 in the first five years of competition.

No stranger to challenges and facing adversity, Stuart has proven she can bounce back. During her junior campaign, she suffered an injury early in the year which sidelined her for the remainder of the season. “It was extremely tough because I’d never been hurt before. I had never experienced sitting out and not being able to practice or play but having my teammates around me and all the support really helped me during my recovery process.” Despite the injury, Stuart recovered to full strength and appeared in 17 games in 2023. She was able to step to the plate for 19 at bats and finished with a .286 on-base percentage while she also tallied four hits, two doubles and scored two runs that eventually helped the team finish 49-12 and make its second consecutive super regional appearance.

I wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammates, coaches and support staff. I had everything I needed. All the resources that I needed to recover and bounce back, and they made it really easy to still be around the game and not feel left out. I still felt included with the team and what was being accomplished. It made it easier to still be around the game and continue learning even if I couldn't physically play.

Stuart credits much of her success to her family and support system who have helped her work towards the point that she is at today. “Both of my parents travel to every away game and my family is at ninety nine percent of my games supporting me.” The catcher said of her support system, “Just knowing that I always have someone in the stands to support me means a lot. All my teammates know and love my mom. She’s has become the team mom, and it is cool to see not only her love and support pouring into me but pouring into my teammates too. It just means so much that my parents sacrifice so much to come watch me play and support me whether we are in McWhorter Stadium or halfway across the country.”

Not only has Stuart achieved success on the field, but she has also received accolades for her academic efforts as she has been named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and All-ACC Academic Team throughout her career. When she is not focusing on softball or academics, Stuart said that she spends her free time with her family and friends playing pickleball or hiking with her dog.

The optimism is present for the team this year for good reason. “I feel like we’re going to be very scrappy. I’m excited for this year! The whole team is working extremely hard to be competitive. I think people will get familiar with some new faces on the roster this year after such a large class graduated at the end of last season, but we have added some strong replacements that I’m excited to see transition into the college softball landscape and the Clemson lineup.”