Charleston Southern Softball Adds New Jersey Standout – Emily Gaudio
CHARLESTON, S.C. – Head Coach Christi Musser and the Charleston Southern Softball program are excited to welcome Emily Gaudio to the Buccaneer family as part of the 2026 recruiting class.
A native of Marlboro, New Jersey, Gaudio joins the Bucs from Marlboro High School, where she has made her mark as a dominant pitcher and utility player. Competing at the club level with NJ Unity 18U Torres/McHale, Emily has built a reputation for her competitiveness, command, and leadership in the circle.
Gaudio's high school career has been defined by both excellence and history-making performances. She was named MVP as a freshman, helped lead her team to the 2023 Group 4 Sectional and State Championships, and again captured the 2024 Group 4 Sectional title. In addition, Emily made school history by throwing the first perfect game in Marlboro High School softball history and earned recognition as a 2024 Third Team All-Shore selection.
In the classroom, Gaudio continues to shine with a 3.9 GPA and is an active member of both the National Honor Society and Honor Roll. She plans to major in Kinesiology at Charleston Southern, where she looks forward to pursuing her academic and athletic goals.
Off the field, Emily gives back to her community through her work with the Miracle League of Mercer County and by volunteering at softball clinics hosted by her high school. She is also involved in Student Council and the Peer Mentorship Club, reflecting her commitment to leadership and service beyond athletics.
When asked why she chose Charleston Southern, Gaudio shared,
"I chose Charleston Southern because the tight-knit atmosphere felt like home to me. I love the town of Charleston as well, and can see myself having a future there. I'm also drawn to the facilities that the school offers not only for my major but also for athletics. I wanted a smaller school, and I think CSU checks all the boxes. I can't wait to call this school home. Go Bucs!"
Head Coach Christi spoke highly of Gaudio's potential and impact on the program:
"Emily is such a great athlete and can contribute in so many ways to our roster. She will add to our pitching depth after the graduation of Riley Lauffer. But you won't just see Emily in the circle — she's dynamic and versatile, and will also help us defensively while bringing a strong bat to our offense. Emily works very hard at her craft and will help bring us a lot of wins for the future!"
Outside of softball, Emily enjoys music, traveling, beach days, and going to New York Mets games with her family. Her favorite place she's visited so far is Irvine, California.
