Bio

Liz Gardner is serving as a graduate assistant for the 2015 season, her sixth overall as a member of Tallahassee Community College's softball program.

A native of Eagle Lake, Fla., and a graduate of Lake Region High School, Gardner has contributed to the Eagles as a student-athlete, student manager, student assistant and, now, as a graduate assistant.

As a member of the Eagles’ 2010 team, Gardner helped Tallahassee to a third-place finish in the NJCAA Region 8B/FCSAA Gulf District Tournament. That season, she appeared in 22 games and tallied five runs, five hits and three RBIs. The next fall, she sustained an injury that forced her to sit out the 2011 season.

Even though she was unable to be in uniform, Gardner served as student manager for the Eagles. During home games, she assisted in various game management responsibilities, including serving as scoreboard operator and public address announcer. 

Gardner returned to the team as a student assistant in 2012 while finishing her A.A. degree. 

Gardner signed with Tallahassee out of Winter Haven’s Lake Region High School, where she played for Coach Bobby Powell. At Lake Region, she was a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. Prior to her varsity career, she was the JV team’s Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player in 2006. 

Gardner also played volleyball at Lake Region and was the JV team’s Best Defensive Player in 2005. She also received the Coaches’ Award at the Webber University Volleyball Camp in 2007.

In addition to athletics, Gardner was active in MCJROTC at Lake Region, where she was the 2008 Drill Team Commander, and the National Honor Society.

A Dean’s List student, Gardner graduated with honors from Tallahassee Community College in April 2012 and is now enrolled at Florida State University, where she is pursuing a degree in sports management. During the summer of 2014, she completed an internship with the National Pro Fastpitch's Akron Racers. 

She is the daughter of Robert and Angela Baird.