BLACKSBURG – Head coach Pete D'Amour has announced the addition of Sophie Kleiman to the 2025 roster.
“A point of emphasis for us this summer was finding a right-handed pitcher with an elite drop ball, and Sophie is a perfect fit for us,” D'Amour said. “She has the ability to throw with high velocity and her ball is really heavy. Sophie will keep the ball in the ballpark. Culturally, she is a fit as well. Sophie just wants to keep getting better and help our team win. I thank the Kleiman family for believing in us. We’re excited for her to be joining our program.”
Kleiman comes to Blacksburg after spending two years at Indiana and will have two years of eligibility remaining. She was pivotal in the Hoosiers’ success, appearing in 41 games while making 23 starts in 2024. Kleiman posted a team-best 2.69 ERA and finished 14-5 in the circle. Her 2.69 ERA ranked eighth among Big Ten pitchers.
The Evansville, Ind., native held opponents to just a .245 batting average and totaled 87 strikeouts in 2024.
Kleiman recorded a career-best eight strikeouts over five innings in Indiana’s 4-0 win over N.C. Central (Feb. 11). She threw her first career no-hitter against Central Michigan, along with three strikeouts, in five innings pitched in Indiana’s 8-0 win (Feb. 23).
Impactful in both years with the Hoosiers, Kleiman made 18 appearances in her rookie season as she tallied 13 strikeouts across 25.2 innings. She recorded a season-best four strikeouts in three innings in her first career win against Purdue (March 29, 2023).
Kleiman was a two-time All-State and First Team All-SIAC selection. She played travel ball with the Louisville Sluggers where she placed third at the 2022 Alliance Nationals.