Francis Marion University Athletics

FMU:  2-year returning letterwinner....2020 Frankie Award for Female Athlete of the Year....Made 20 pitching appearances with 14 starts....10 complete games and three shutouts....Tossed no-hitter vs Mars Hill (2-15-20)....Tied for the NCAA II national lead with 15 wins (against only 4 losses)....PBC rankings: 1st in pitching appearances and wins, 2nd in starts, 3rd in strikeouts (117) and WHIP (0.92), 3rd in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.16), 4th in complete games and fewest walks allowed per 8 7 innings (1.32), 5th in strikeouts per 7 innings (8.1), 8th in ERA (1.88), 9th in fewest hits allowed per 7 innings (5.15)....2019 Frankie Award for Female Rookie of the Year....Led the FMU pitching staff in 2019 in wins (18), saves (school-record tying 3), starts (27), strikeouts (213), and ERA (2.41)....Peach Belt rankings: 2nd in appearances and saves, 3rd in complete games and shutouts, 4th in wins, strikeouts, and innings pitched, and 11th in ERA....WHIP of 1.26....PBC Pitcher of the Week (March 25, 2019)....Transfer from University of Massachusetts-Lowell....Has all the tools to be successful....Fit in from the moment she stepped on campus....Staff can't wait to see what she will bring to the table....Peach Belt Conference Presidential Honor Roll 2019, 2021....FMU Swamp Fox Athletic-Academic Honor Roll 2018 (fall), 2019 (spring, fall), 2020 (spring, fall), 2021 (spring).

UML: Went 2-4 in 11 appearances (42.1 IP) with 7.11 ERA and three complete games for the Riverhawks during the 2018 campaign.

PERSONAL: 

• Born Katelyn Jane Ellard in Boston, MA
• Four-year letter winner at Green Hope High School, where she played under coach Logan Hill
• Served as team captain during senior year
• As a junior, earned All-Conference honors and was named team MVP
• Two-time Academic All-Conference selection
• Nickname is Kate

PERSONAL FAVORITES:

• As a child what you wanted to be when you grew up:  Marine biologist 
• Favorite Superhero: Spider man 
• Favorite Athlete:  David Ortiz
• Favorite Sports Team:  Boston Red Sox
• Favorite Movie or TV Show: Jaws, The Office
• Favorite Food:  Mac and cheese
• Favorite Vacation Spot:  Hawaii 
• Twitter Handle: kjellard 
• Instagram Account: katelynellard
• Your Motivation Music: Alternative
• Favorite Thing About FMU:  The pretty campus and the friends I’ve made
• Favorite Off-Field Activity:  Napping
• Goals for Upcoming Season:  Win the conference tournament
• Why you chose your sport: Be closest with my family; Older brother played baseball, and dad coached 
• The biggest mental challenge to you improving faster: Motivation
• Interesting Notes: I have watched The Office 14 times all the way through