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NM STATE DROPS PAIR OF GAMES AT TUCSON REGIONAL
NM State fell 11-0 in five innings to No. 2-seed Arizona, then saw its season come to an end in an 8-4 heartbreaker to Saint Francis in an elimination game at the Tucson Regional. In the first game, the potent NM State offense was limited to just two hits while the Wildcats hit three homers. The Aggies matched their season high with four errors in the defeat. NM State shortstop
Rachel Rodriguez put down a bunt single to third base in the top of the third inning and finished the game 1-for-2. In the second game, the Aggies plated all four of their runs in the top of the first inning. NM State had a shutout going until the bottom of the fifth, when it allowed five runs on three hits, including a grand slam. Saint Francis added three more runs in the sixth on two more homer. The Aggies stranded 10 runners in the loss, as they out-hit the Red Flash 12-7 on the game.
Kaitlyn Rubio was 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
FIVE WAC PLAYERS EARN NFCA ALL-REGION HONORS
Five WAC softball players have been named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Region teams. NM State's Kelsey Horton was a second team selection in the Pacific Region, while Grand Canyon's Kendsey Hill, Taylor Nowlin and Camree Wartman and Utah Valley's Lauren Frailey were each named to the All-West Region third team.
The WAC Player of the Year, Horton leads the WAC in batting average (.424), slugging percentage (.816), on-base percentage (.515), runs (51), RBI (59), home runs (16) and total bases (129). She broke the conference records for batting average (.558) and slugging percentage (1.258) and tying the record for home runs per game (0.60) in WAC games only. Horton was a three-time WAC Hitter of the Week selection.
Hill hit at a .426 clip in WAC games, including a team-high 23 hits. She was also strong behind the dish, throwing out two of the five base runners attempting to steal. For the year, Hill had 12 multi-hit games and seven multi-RBI games.
Nowlin earned her second All-WAC first team honor and finished the year with a 19-8 mark and a 3.51 ERA. She tossed 19 complete games and five shutouts in 159.1 innings pitched. She led the WAC in wins, strikeouts (158) and opponent batting average (.244).
Wartman, a senior second baseman, hit .351 with 59 hits, 14 doubles and five triples. She ranked second in the WAC in doubles and triples, tied for fifth in RBIs (36), sixth in hits (59) and eighth in slugging percentage (.530). Wartman had Grand Canyon's longest hitting streak of the year at 11 games and had 15 multi-hit games during the year.
The WAC Pitcher of the Year, Frailey earned six of the Wolverines' seven WAC wins. In league play, she led the WAC in games started (12), ranked second in ERA (3.40), tied for second in wins (6), innings pitched (59.2) and appearances (12), and ranked fourth in strikeouts (19). Frailey was named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times this season.
A total of 667 players representing 175 different institutions comprise this season's regional teams, including first, second and third teams for each region. The all-region teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region. All the honorees are eligible for selection to the 2016 NFCA Division I All-American teams, which will be announced Wednesday, May 31.
NM STATE WINS WAC TOURNAMENT OUT OF LOSERS BRACKET
NM State won its third WAC Tournament title out of the losers bracket after a dramatic seventh inning win in the first championship game and a 10-0 run-rule victory over No. 3-seed Seattle U in the second game on championship Saturday to earn the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Rachel Rodriguez was named tournament MVP after hitting a single up the middle for the 15-14 walk-off win in the first game. For the tournament, she hit .556 with a .722 slugging percentage and .579 on-base percentage. She had one double, one triple, five RBIs and three stolen bases.
All-Tournament Team
Victoria Castro, NM State
Madison Cathcart, Seattle U
Samaria Diaz, NM State
Jessica Flanagan, Seattle U
Misty Hoohuli, NM State
Maddy Kristjanson, Seattle U
Jo Larios, CSU Bakersfield
Andie Larkins, Seattle U
Kendra Leach, UMKC
Maegan Rollow, UMKC
MVP: Rachel Rodriguez, NM State
FIVE WAC TOURNAMENT RECORDS BROKEN
Five WAC Tournament records were tied or broken in 2017. They are listed below.
| Doubles/Tournament |
Maegan Rollow, UMKC |
4 |
previous was 3 |
| RBIs/Tournament |
Maegan Rollow, UMKC |
12 |
tied record |
| Stolen bases/Tournament |
Rachel Rodriguez, NM State |
3 |
tied record |
| Walks/Tournament |
Kelsey Horton, NM State |
7 |
tied record |
|
Madison Cathcart, Seattle U |
7 |
tied record |
ALL-WAC TEAMS ANNOUNCED
The Western Athletic Conference announced its 2017 All-WAC softball teams and major awards as selected by the league's head coaches at the award banquet prior to the WAC Tournament. NM State's
Kelsey Horton was named WAC Player of the Year, while Utah Valley's
Lauren Frailey was named WAC Pitcher of the Year and teammate
Caragh Morris was named WAC Freshman of the Year. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon's
Ann Pierson was named WAC Coach of the Year.
Horton, a sophomore second baseman from San Clemente, Calif., earned Player of the Year honors after breaking the WAC records for batting average (.558) and slugging percentage (1.258) and tying the record for home runs per game (0.60) in WAC games only. She also led the league in on-base percentage (.678), runs (20), hits (24), RBIs (22), homers (9), total bases (54) and walks (13) in WAC play. She was a three-time WAC Hitter of the Week selection.
Frailey, a junior right-hander from Tooele, Utah, earned WAC Pitcher of the Year honors after earning six of the Wolverines' seven WAC wins. In league play, she led the WAC in games started (12), ranked second in ERA (3.40), wins (6), innings pitched (59.2) and appearances (12), and ranked fourth in strikeouts (19). Frailey was named WAC Pitcher of the Week three times this season.
Morris, an outfielder from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors after hitting .373 with a .569 slugging percentage and a .439 on-base percentage in WAC play. She ranked tied for fourth in the league in WAC games in doubles (4), tied for seventh in hits (19) and ninth in RBIs (14). Morris had seven multi-hit games and four multi-RBI games in WAC play.
Pierson earned Coach of the Year honors after leading the Lopes to a share of the WAC regular-season title and the most overall wins since transitioning to Division I (36). She surpassed 400 career wins earlier this season and her program received votes in the USA Softball Top 25 poll for the first time in program history.
| First Team |
School |
Ht. |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Paige Bouska |
Seattle U |
5-6 |
Sr. |
OF |
| Nikki Butler |
NM State |
5-8 |
Fr. |
C |
| Lauren Frailey |
Utah Valley |
5-9 |
Jr. |
RHP |
| Kendsey Hill |
Grand Canyon |
5-6 |
Sr. |
C |
| Chris Hipa |
CSU Bakersfield |
5-6 |
So. |
3B |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
5-11 |
So. |
2B |
| Kendra Leach |
UMKC |
5-4 |
Jr. |
OF |
| Alyson Matriotti |
Seattle U |
5-9 |
Fr. |
3B |
| Taylor Nowlin |
Grand Canyon |
5-6 |
Sr. |
LHP |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
5-5 |
Jr. |
SS |
| Sierra Smith |
Grand Canyon |
5-5 |
So. |
3B |
| Megan Stevens |
Grand Canyon |
5-8 |
Fr. |
1B |
| Brittney Vansway |
Utah Valley |
5-6 |
Sr. |
3B |
| |
|
|
|
|
| Second Team |
School |
Ht. |
Yr. |
Pos. |
| Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage |
Grand Canyon |
5-7 |
Fr. |
RHP |
| Kaylynn Burt |
CSU Bakersfield |
5-4 |
Jr. |
OF |
| Victoria Castro |
NM State |
5-8 |
So. |
OF |
| Madison Cathcart |
Seattle U |
5-7 |
Fr. |
1B |
| Jenna Coates |
Grand Canyon |
5-8 |
Sr. |
OF |
| Fahren Glackin |
NM State |
5-6 |
Jr. |
1B |
| Kelsey Goodwin |
UMKC |
5-9 |
Jr. |
2B |
| Kayla Green |
NM State |
6-1 |
So. |
RHP |
| Andie Larkins |
Seattle U |
5-10 |
So. |
RHP |
| Caragh Morris |
Utah Valley |
5-5 |
Fr. |
OF |
| Maegan Rollow |
UMKC |
5-7 |
So. |
OF |
| Shea Smith |
Grand Canyon |
5-5 |
So. |
SS |
| Camree Wartman |
Grand Canyon |
5-4 |
Sr. |
2B |
WAC Player of the Year: Kelsey Horton, NM State
WAC Pitcher of the Year: Lauren Frailey, Utah Valley
WAC Freshman of the Year: Caragh Morris, Utah Valley
WAC Coach of the Year: Ann Pierson, Grand Canyon
GCU'S GONZALEZ NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT 8
Grand Canyon's
Niki Gonzalez was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 Team. A junior catcher from Tucson, Ariz., Gonzalez has a 3.98 grade-point average as an exercise science major. She started all 54 games for the Lopes as Grand Canyon tied a school-record with 36 wins and captured a share of the WAC regular-season title, going 11-4 in WAC games. Gonzalez hit .320 with 31 RBIs, 16 doubles, four home runs and 27 runs scored. She finished the year with 12 multi-hit games, seven multi-RBI games and a season-high seven-game hitting streak. In order to be eligible, a player must have completed at least one academic year, must be a starter or significant reserve, must have a 3.30 cumulative grade-point average and must have completed at least one full academic year at her institution. Voting is done by members of CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America).
GCU, NM STATE SHARE REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
After finishing the conference regular season with identical 11-4 records, Grand Canyon and NM State shared the WAC regular-season title. For the Lopes, it was their second title in four years in the league. For the Aggies, it was their fourth regular-season title and third in a row. NM State joined the WAC in the 2005-06 school year.
NM STATE'S RODOLPH EARNS 500TH CAREER VICTORY
NM State head coach
Kathy Rodolph earned her 500th career victory at the NCAA level when her team defeated New Mexico on May 2. In her 14th season with the Aggies and 16th season at the NCAA level, Rodolph boasts a 505-398 (.559) career record.
UTAH VALLEY POSTS BEST-EVER HOME WINNING PERCENTAGE
After going 0-9 at home last season, UVU answered in 2017 with an 11-3 record at the friendly confines of Wolverine Field, the best home winning percentage in school history (.786). The 11 victories marked the second-most wins, as the 2013 club went 12-5 at Wolverine Field. Of the 11 victories, the Wolverines won five via the eight-run rule.
NMSU'S GREEN MOVING UP PROGRAM SAVES LISTS
With a save against Florida Atlantic on May 4, NM State sophomore pitcher
Kayla Green notched her fourth save of the season to tie with four other pitchers for the all-time single-season record. She also moved her career total to six, one shy of a tie for second place in the career record books. The all-time record is 11.
NM STATE'S HORTON BREAKS THREE WAC RECORDS
NM State sophomore
Kelsey Horton broke or tied three WAC records for league games only. Horton posted a .558 batting average, breaking the previous record of .535 set by Fresno State's Nina Lindenberg in 1996. Horton also posted a 1.258 slugging percentage to crush the previous record of 1.050 set by Hawai‘i's Jessica Iwata in 2010. Finally, Horton averaged 0.60 home runs per game to tie with former Aggie Fiana Finau in 2015.
Horton also broke into the Top 10 in these categories:
| RBIs per game |
1.47 |
T-5th |
| Home runs |
9 |
T-8th |
| Hits per game |
1.6 |
T-10th |
CSUB'S KLIMENKO RANKS THIRD IN PROGRAM CAREER STARTS
With one starts in the WAC Tournament, CSU Bakersfield senior hurler
Lyndsay Klimenko moved her career total to 54, good for third place in CSUB's Division I history, eight shy of second place. Klimenko also closed out her career with 98 appearances, second-most of any ‘Runner. The school record is 112 (Kelsie Monroe, 2013-15).
UVU'S VANSWAY SETS PROGRAM SEASON RBI RECORD
On April 29, Utah Valley senior third baseman
Brittney Vansway became the program single-season RBI record holder with 49, surpassing Amanda Perez's previous record of 48 set in 2010. Vansway closed out the season with 52. On April 7 against CSU Bakersfield, she became the program career RBI leader with a four-RBI outing bringing her career total to 149, passing the prior record of 148 held by Perez (2009-12). Vansway finished her career with 159 RBIs.
CSUB'S BURT BREAKS PROGRAM STOLEN BASE RECORD
With a stolen base in the series finale at Seattle U on April 29, CSU Bakersfield junior
Kaylynn Burt moved her season total to 16, breaking the program single-season Division I record set last season. Burt was also hit by a pitch 12 times on the season, second-most in a single Division I season at CSUB.
NMSU'S RODRIGUEZ RANKS SECOND IN CAREER STOLEN BASES
NM State junior
Rachel Rodriguez ranks second in the program career record books for stolen bases with 69. She also ranks tied for second in stolen base attempts (77).
CSUB GETS FIRST-EVER WIN IN A GAME OF 10+ INNINGS
When it defeated UC Riverside 3-2 in 10 innings on April 19, it was CSU Bakersfield's first-ever win in a game of 10 innings or more. The Roadrunners were 0-5 previously. The game tied for the fifth-longest game in CSUB's Division I history.
NM STATE'S BUTLER BREAKS PROGRAM RECORD FOR HBP
NM State freshman
Nikki Butler broke the program single-season record for hit by a pitch in the first game of the WAC Tournament against CSU Bakersfield with her 11th HBP of the season and extended the record when she was hit again twice during the tournament to move her total to 13 on the season.
CSUB'S CURRY RANKS THIRD IN CAREER PUTOUTS
CSU Bakersfield junior
Nicole Curry has 499 career putouts, good for third place in CSUB's Division I history. Curry needs to reach 582 to take over second. The all-time CSUB record is 859 (Amy Ricciardi, 2011-14).
SEATTLE U EXTENDS WAC-LEADING TRIPLES TOTAL TO 14
With one triple during its series against CSU Bakersfield, Seattle U extended its WAC-leading total to 14 on the season. Five different players posted triples this year for the Redhawks, led by
Paige Bouska with seven, which ranks fifth nationally. Meanwhile,
Kaylee Ree,
Maddy Kristjanson and
Cherise Silvan have two apiece and
Nicole Bolasky has one.
UMKC'S SWEEP OF CSUB JUST FOURTH EVER
When the Roos swept CSU Bakersfield in the opening weekend of WAC play, it was just the fourth time since joining the WAC that UMKC swept a conference opponent. The Roos also swept the Roadrunners and Seattle U in 2016 and swept Utah Valley in 2015.
SEATTLE U-GRAND CANYON PLAY 12-INNING GAME
On March 31, Seattle U and Grand Canyon played a 12-inning game with Seattle U winning 7-3. In the bottom of the 12th inning, the lights, which are on a timer, turned off, resulting in a 15 minute delay, as the lights must cool before being turned back on. The game was the longest in Seattle U program history and is tied for the sixth-longest in Division I this season.
SEATTLE U'S BOUSKA SETS PROGRAM CAREER HITS RECORD
Seattle U senior outfielder
Paige Bouska became the program career hits leader on March 26 in a 5-3 win over Santa Clara and closed out her career with 234. Trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Bouska's triple to left drove in two runs and set the school record with her 209th career hit. She passed Jane Purdy and Isabella Geronimo, both of whom had 208 hits.
CSUB PICKS UP FIRST WIN VS. RANKED TEAM IN FOUR YEARS
CSU Bakersfield notched up its first win over a ranked opponent in exactly four years when it defeated No. 25 Cal Poly 11-8 on March 25.
Chris Hipa led the way at the plate with a home run and a triple and five RBIs. The ‘Runners' previous win over a ranked team was March 25, 2013, when they defeated No. 24 Oregon State 10-7 at home.
UVU'S VANSWAY SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR SF
UVU senior
Brittney Vansway became the all-time program leader in sacrifice flies with a third-inning sac fly against Idaho State on March 23 in Pocatello. With the sacrifice, Vansway now has a UVU-best five sacrifice flies on the season as well as an all-time best nine for her career. Her ninth career sac fly passed Jessica Anderson's (2008-10) previous record of eight.
SEATTLE U'S REUBLE THROWS PERFECT GAME
Seattle U senior right-hander
Alyssa Reuble threw a perfect game in Seattle U's 8-0 five-inning win over South Dakota on March 10. She needed just 41 pitches to blank the Coyotes. Reuble's gem was the first perfect game in Division I this season and the first by a WAC pitcher since the 2010 season. It also marks just the third perfect game in program history.
UVU'S VANSWAY RANKS THIRD NATIONALLY IN RBIS/GAME
In the final NCAA statistical rankings, Utah Valley's
Brittney Vansway ranked third in the nation with 1.30 RBIs per game. The senior tallied 52 RBIs in 40 games this season. The third baseman also ranked 16th nationally in home runs per game (0.33), 18th in sacrifice flies (5) and 32nd in slugging percentage (.760).
UVU'S VANSWAY BECOMES PROGRAM ASSISTS LEADER
With six assists in a pair of games on Friday, March 3, senior infielder
Brittney Vansway became Utah Valley's all-time leader in defensive assists with 412. The three-time All-WAC performer and four-year starter passed former UVU third baseman Jessica Anderson's (2008-2010) old record of 340. Vansway now has 408. The slick-fielding Vansway is also UVU's all-time record holder in double plays turned with 49.
UVU'S FRAILEY THROWS ONE-HIT SHUTOUT VS. IOWA STATE
Utah Valley rode the right arm of
Lauren Frailey to its first win of the season on March 5, a complete-game shutout over Big 12 foe Iowa State. She scattered six Cyclone hits, struck out three and induced a total of 16 groundouts on the day. The victory was UVU's third win in program history over a Big 12 opponent.
THREE WAC PLAYERS CANDIDATES FOR SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Three WAC softball players - Grand Canyon's
Taylor Nowlin and
Camree Wartman and Utah Valley's
Brittney Vansway - were among the 30 candidates for the 2017 Senior CLASS Award® in collegiate softball. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - community, classroom, character and competition. The 30 candidates will be narrowed to 10 finalists later in the season, and those 10 names will be placed on the official ballot.
GCU'S PIERSON PICKS UP 400TH CAREER VICTORY
Grand Canyon head coach
Ann Pierson earned her 400th career victory in the Lopes' 7-5 victory over Rhode Island on Feb. 25. In her 14th year at the helm. Pierson is 421-314-3 (.572).
CSUB'S CLARK TIES RECORD FOR RBIS IN A GAME
In the nightcap against Cal State Fullerton, a team that came into the week receiving votes in NFCA Top 25 poll, CSU Bakersfield junior
Maddi Clark went 3-for-4 with a grand slam, the first home run of her collegiate career. Clark drove in a total of six RBIs, tying CSUB's all-time single-game record.
SEATTLE U'S LARKINS TOSSES ONE-HITTER
On Feb. 19 against Montana, Seattle U sophomore hurler
Andie Larkins threw a complete game, one-hit shutout to lead the Redhawks to a 2-0 victory over the Grizzlies. She struck out three over seven innings.
UVU'S BEAVERS SETS RECORD FOR HITS IN A GAME
In her first game in a Wolverine uniform, Utah Valley senior outfielder
Courtney Beavers set a school record for hits in a game after going 5-for-5 from the plate on Feb. 17 against San Diego at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The leadoff hitter had three doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base.