TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama softball has picked up its second infielder from the transfer portal this week.
Former Louisiana third baseman Brooke Ellestad announced her commitment to the Crimson Tide Thursday morning on social media.
The infielder started 61 of 64 games for the Ragin' Cajuns last season, hitting .359 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs and a .564 slugging percentage. She led the team in RBIs and was tied for the team's best total in home runs. (All of those statistics would have led Alabama in 2024.)
Originally from Kimberly, Wisconsin, Ellestad spent her first two collegiate seasons at St. Thomas in Minnesota before transferring to Louisiana last season. She will have one year of eligibility remaining with Alabama.
At Louisiana, she earned NFCA All-Central Region Third Team honors in 2024 and was named to the All-Sun Belt First Team. The Ragin' Cajuns were the No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament and beat Oklahoma last season during non-conference play.
Ellestad is the fifth portal commitment for the Crimson Tide joining Northern Iowa utility Alexis Pupillo, pitcher Catelyn Riley, pitcher Emily Winstead and infielder Salen Hawkins. The only player to transfer out this offseason was infielder Kenleigh Cahalan.
Alabama needed to replace at least two of the starting infield spots with third baseman Bailey Dowling graduating and Cahalan transferring to Florida. Ellestad will likely slide into the third base role.