SEARCY – Whitney Kiihnl, a four-year letterwinner in softball at Lipscomb University and now enrolled in Harding's physician assistant program, will be the volunteer assistant for Harding's softball team, according to head coach Phil Berry.

Kiihnl, a native of Batesville, Miss., had a storied career at Lipscomb that included four All-Atlantic Sun Conference honors. She was also a 3rd Team All-America honoree and the Atlantic Sun Player and Pitcher of the Year honoree in 2010.

“I am very excited to have Whitney join the Harding softball program,” Berry said. “Her experience and success at Lipscomb University will be invaluable as we launch our softball program.”

Kiihnl, who will serve as Harding's pitching coach and work with slappers and outfielders, had a 93-39 career record at Lipscomb with a 1.46 ERA. She struck out 1,118 hitters in 875 1/3 innings pitched. In 2010, her sophomore season, Kiihnl was 33-5 with an NCAA Division 1-leading 0.94 ERA and 344 strikeouts in 237 innings.

Intercollegiate softball returns to Harding in 2014 for the first time since 1985.