Anderson adds ECU transfer Emma Jackson from portal

The mid-major outfielder hit 21 HR in 2025

Late Thursday, a Larissa signal appeared in the night. For a team that seemed to be losing team members at an alarming rate, it was a welcome sign. Who would it be? A pitcher? They need at least one of those. A catcher? All they’ve got now that Julia Crenshaw graduated is Stefania Abruscato. A middle or corner infielder? Could use some of them too? A proven power hitter? Definitely.

Fans didn’t have to wait that long, as Eastern Carolina outfielder Emma Jackson announced that she will join the Tigers for her final season of eligibility. This could be a great addition, as 64Analytics had ranked her as the fifth best available player in the portal as of May 21.

This past year, the junior left fielder had a line of .326 BA / .730 SLG% / 1.183 OPS in 178 at-bats while amassing 58 hits, 53 runs, 54 RBI, 9 doubles, and a whopping 21 home runs, which broke an ECU single season record. The Second Team All-AAC honoree also tallied 40 walks, but needs to cut down on the strikeout numbers, as 40 whiffs isn’t going to do it. While she struggled in games against South Carolina, Clemson, and Duke, going 0-for-10 with six strikeouts, she had nice games against UNC (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI, USF (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), Boston College (3-4, HR), NC State (1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI) and Michigan (1-3, HR, 2 RBI). Her best game of the season was against Charlotte on March 28, where she had four hits — three of which were home runs — and five RBI. Jackson also earned All-Conference tourney team honors after hitting two home runs and recording three RBI vs. Memphis in the second round of the AAC Conference tourney.

Jackson’s sophomore season was even more productive, as she started in 56 games and earned AAC Second Team All-Conference and NFCA All-Mideast First Team honors after leading the Pirates with a .397/.751/.460 slashing line to go along with 75 hits, 24 doubles and 50 RBI.

This performance rightfully earned her a place on both the Preseason Softball America and D1 Softball Top 100 players lists coming into her junior season in 2025. She also was ranked by D1 Softball as the no. 19 outfielder in the country.

Jackson, a Virginia native, played her freshman season at Virginia Tech, where she played in 27 games for the Hokies, making 14 starts (mostly at DP). In 45 at-bats, she recorded 12 hits and scored 14 runs, finishing the season with a .556 SLG%.

This is Larissa Anderson’s first offseason acquisition, and I expect several more announcements to come, as they’ll need to replace the production of Madison Walker, Julia Crenshaw, Kara Daly, and Taylor Ebbs, among several other smaller role players. They also need a hitting coach to replace Jeff Cottrill, who was let go in the last month. Stay tuned to Rock M Nation for all the details!