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NM STATE TO HOST 2017 WAC TOURNAMENT
NM State will host the 2017 WAC Softball Tournament. The five eligible teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament, which will be held at the NM State Softball Complex May 11-13. This is the fourth time the Aggies have hosted the event, as they did so in 2010, 2012 and 2015.
GRAND CANYON, NM STATE PICKED TO WIN 2017 WAC TITLE
In a preseason vote of the six WAC softball coaches, who could not vote for their own team, Grand Canyon and NM State were selected as the preseason favorites to win the title.
The Lopes and Aggies tied for the top spot in the preseason poll with 23 points and three first-place votes each. CSU Bakersfield and Seattle U tied for third place with 13 points apiece. UMKC was fifth with 11 points, while Utah Valley rounded out the poll in sixth place with seven points.
PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM
NM State sophomore first baseman
Kelsey Horton was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and Grand Canyon senior
Taylor Nowlin was selected as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year in a vote of the league's six head coaches, who could not vote for their own players.
NM State placed the most players on the Preseason All-WAC team with four, while Grand Canyon had three and UMKC and Utah Valley had two apiece.
Joining Horton and Nowlin on the Preseason All-WAC Team were Aggies
Victoria Castro,
Kayla Green and
Rachel Rodriguez; Grand Canyon's
Shea Smith and
Camree Wartman; CSU Bakersfield's
Julea Cavazos; UMKC's
Kendra Leach and
Bri Sims; Seattle U's
Paige Bouska; and Utah Valley's
Bailey Moore and
Brittney Vansway.
TOP RETURNING STAT LEADERS
The top returning stat leaders in the WAC from last year include:
| Category |
Name, School |
Statistic/'16 Rank |
| Batting Average |
Camree Wartman, GCU |
.392/1st |
| Slugging Pct. |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
.667/1st |
| On Base Pct. |
Shea Smith, GCU |
.464/3rd |
| Runs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
56/1st |
| Hits |
Paige Bouska, SU |
68/T-1st |
|
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
|
| RBIs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
47/3rd |
| Doubles |
Camree Wartman, GCU |
17/1st |
| Triples |
Victoria Castro, NMSU |
4/T-1st |
|
Rachel Rodriguez, NMSU |
|
|
Sierra Smith, GCU |
|
| Home Runs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
13/1st |
| Stolen Bases |
Rachel Rodriguez, NMSU |
34/1st |
| ERA |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
2.31/2nd |
| Wins |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
18/1st |
| Saves |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
4/2nd |
| Strikeouts |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
132/2nd |
| Innings Pitched |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
160.2/2nd |
| Opponent Batting Average |
Taylor Nowlin, GCU |
.204/1st |
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Of the 13 first team All-WAC players from last year, six return for the 2017 season, including Grand Canyon's
Taylor Nowlin and
Camree Wartman, CSU Bakersfield's
Julea Cavazos, NM State's
Kelsey Horton, UMKC's
Bri Sims and Utah Valley's
Brittney Vansway.
Eight of the second team All-WAC selections return for 2017, including three from NM State (
Victoria Castro,
Corrin Green and
Rachel Rodriguez). Also returning are Seattle U's
Paige Bouska,
Morgan Byrn and
Kelsey Goodwin of UMKC,
Chris Hipa of CSU Bakersfield and
Shea Smith of Grand Canyon.