EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – SIUE softball Head Coach Ben Sorden announced three signees for the program Thursday.
The newest Cougars are Gigi Bojorquez (Pico Rivera, California), Alexis Redoblado (Pomona, California), and Kaylee O'Connell (Munster, Indiana).
"We are excited about this year's signees," said Sorden. "When we sought out this class, we looked first and foremost for players that were gritty, determined, and coachable. We found that in Gigi, Alexis and Kaylee. All three young women have played at a very high level and are battle tested but still have yet to reach their potential. Each possess the core values we seek to continue to move our program forward."
The trio will join the Cougars next fall as well as the beginning of the spring 2028 season.
Below is a sketch of each newcomer.
Gigi Bojorquez
Hometown: Pico Rivera, California
High School: Whittier Christian HS
Position: Infield
Club Team: Corona Angels
Club Coach: Marty Tyson
Projected Major at SIUE: Marketing
From Coach Sorden: "Gigi is an elite infielder that plays for one of the top travel ball organizations in the country, the Corona Angels. She's a leader that makes everyone around her better. A selfless player, she stood out early in our recruiting of this class with her high-level defense, energy, and determination at the plate. She will represent SIUE with great pride and leadership."
Career Highlights: Went 4-0 at the 2026 Alliance and Super Cup Birth … Perfect 10-0 at 2026 IDT Championships … Will be team captain her for her second straight season at Whittier Christian as a senior … Named second team Olympic League after winning league title … CIF SS D2 Champions.
Alexis Redoblado
Hometown: Pomona, California
High School: Ganesha HS
Position: Outfield
Club Team: Corona Angels
Club Coach: Marty Tyson
Projected Major at SIUE: Business Administration
From Coach Sorden: "Alexis possesses elite-level range in the outfield. Another Corona Angel, she flies around the field and leads her team in the outfield. Always a threat at the plate, she's double trouble with her combination of speed and power. We are excited to see what she can do as a Cougar."
Career Highlights: Offensive Player of the Tournament at the Patriot Games 2025 … National championship runner-up for Alliance Tier 1 14u Division in 2024 … Scholar-Athlete at Ganesha High School in 2025-26 … Coaches her younger sister in 6U Division for the La Habra Girls Softball Association.
Kaylee O'Connell
Hometown: Munster, Indiana
High School: Munster HS
Position: Pitcher
Club Teams: Indiana Magic Gold
Club Coaches: Dave Zachary
Projected Major at SIUE: Medical Technology
From Coach Sorden: "Kaylee pitches for the Indiana Magic Gold, one of the best organizations in the Midwest. In the circle, her ability to change planes and mix speeds will give added depth to our pitching rotation. In addition to being a great teammate, she is highly coachable and has tremendous upside with her work ethic. We look forward to watching her grow as a pitcher.
Career Highlights: Three-time All-Conference pick at Munster High School … Set the standard early in her prep career with a 1.29 earned run average as a freshman with nine wins and an opponent batting average of .153 … Scholar-Athlete Award winner and also played four years of basketball.
