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NM STATE TO HOST 2018 WAC TOURNAMENT
NM State will host the 2018 WAC Softball Tournament. All six teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament, which will be held at the NM State Softball Complex May 9-12. This is the fifth time the Aggies have hosted the event, as they did so in 2010, 2012, 2015 and 2017.
GRAND CANYON PICKED TO WIN 2018 WAC TITLE
In a preseason vote of the six WAC softball coaches, who could not vote for their own team, Grand Canyon was selected as the preseason favorite to win the title.
The Lopes took the top spot with 24 points and four first-place votes, while NM State was just behind in second with 22 points and the other two first-place votes. Seattle U was selected to finish in third place with 16 points, just ahead of Utah Valley in fourth place with 14 points. Kansas City (8) and CSU Bakersfield (6) round out the poll.
PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAM
NM State sophomore first baseman
Kelsey Horton was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year and Seattle U junior
Andie Larkins 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.
Grand Canyon placed the most players on the Preseason All-WAC team with four, while NM State had three.
Joining Horton and Larkins on the Preseason All-WAC Team were
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage,
Kendsey Hill,
Shea Smith and
Sierra Smith of Grand Canyon;
Nikki Butler and
Rachel Rodriguez of NM State;
Lauren Frailey Spendlove and
Caragh Morris of Utah Valley;
Kelsey Goodwin of Kansas City;
Chris Hipa of CSU Bakersfield; and
Kaylee Ree of Seattle U.
TOP RETURNING STAT LEADERS
The top returning stat leaders in the WAC from last year include:
| Category |
Name, School |
Statistic/'17 Rank |
| Batting Average |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
.415/1st |
| Slugging Pct. |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
.799/1st |
| On Base Pct. |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
.505/2nd |
| Runs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
52/1st |
| Hits |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
69/2nd |
| RBIs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
59/1st |
| Doubles |
Niki Gonzalez, GCU |
16/1st |
| Triples |
Caity Szczesny, NMSU |
3/T-4th |
|
Sierra Smith, GCU |
|
| Home Runs |
Kelsey Horton, NMSU |
16/1st |
| Stolen Bases |
Rachel Rodriguez, NMSU |
22/1st |
| ERA |
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage, GCU |
2.87/1st |
| Wins |
Samaria Diaz, NMSU |
16/2nd |
| Saves |
Kayla Green, NMSU |
4/1st |
| Strikeouts |
Andie Larkins, SU |
95/2nd |
| Innings Pitched |
Andie Larkins, SU |
200.1/1st |
| Opponent Batting Average |
Samaria Diaz, NMSU |
.277/2nd |
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Of the 13 first team All-WAC players from last year, eight return for the 2018 season, including NM State's
Nikki Butler,
Kelsey Horton and
Rachel Rodriguez, Grand Canyon's
Kendsey Hill and
Sierra Smith, CSU Bakersfield's
Chris Hipa, Seattle U's
Alyson Matriotti and Utah Valley's
Lauren Frailey Spendlove.
Eleven of the second team All-WAC selections return for 2018, including three from NM State (
Victoria Castro,
Fahren Glackin and
Kayla Green). Also returning are Grand Canyon's
Brianna Aguilar-Beaucage and
Shea Smith, Kansas City's
Kelsey Goodwin and
Maegan Rollow, Seattle U's
Madison Cathcart and
Andie Larkins,
Kaylynn Burt of CSU Bakersfield and
Caragh Morris of Utah Valley.