Dixie Raley says that her decision to transfer to the University of South Carolina was an easy one after her visit. She says she loved the campus and the school's public relations program, which is her major. Raley enters as a junior and has more experience pitching at the college level than anyone else on the Lady Gamecocks' staff.

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. — After opting to transfer following the first two years of her college career at Georgia Southern University, softball standout and GMC Prep alum Dixie Raley has selected Columbia, S.C. as her new home.

Raley was named Second Team All-Sun Belt following her sophomore campaign after earning the top pitching spot as a freshman. She was 13-20 this past season with a 3.41 earned run average over 170-plus innings and threw 13 complete games, six of which were shutouts, on her way to a 7-9 record against Sun Belt opponents. Her performance in her first two seasons caught the eye of many programs especially after hearing of her release, which allows her to play immediately rather than sit out a year, as is the case with some transfers. Raley said she received interest from big name schools such as Mississippi State, Texas A&M and Arkansas as well as Mercer and Georgia College among others, and that education played one of the biggest parts in her final decision.

“First off the campus is beautiful,” she said of South Carolina, “but I really liked the coaching staff and I got a good vibe from them and the girls that I met. Bigger than that is they have a really good program for what I’m studying which, is public relations. They also have a good master’s degree program that I can go back to.”

The all-conference pitcher said she mulled a transfer for a while and considered coming closer to home, but once she visited she knew South Carolina was the right decision.

“Once I got my release I emailed a couple of coaches and [USC head coach Beverly Smith] emailed me right back,” the future Lady Gamecock said. “They were actually the last college I emailed after I had gone on a few visits and she emailed me right back and got me on campus the same week.”

The South Carolina softball program has been on the rise in Smith’s seven years of leadership. The team’s overall record is 229-179 since Smith came on board in July 2010 and she has led the team to five consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament including three regional championship opportunities. This past season the Lady Gamecocks finished 34-25. Pitching, which is something Raley can definitely provide, is a need for South Carolina entering next season. Although the level of competition will be significantly greater than what she faced as a member of the Georgia Southern squad, she said she isn’t feeling any jitters.

“I’ll be the pitcher with the most experience coming in because right now they have a sophomore and two freshmen. … They have a good program already, and I don’t want to feel like I’m not on their level,” Raley said. “I’m really excited honestly. I don’t feel nervous at all.”

Dixie said practice begins about two weeks into the school year at which time the team will receive its fall schedule before the real deal kicks up in the spring.