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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rachel Garcia was named one of 25 finalists for the Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year award, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association on Thursday. Garcia has been a key part to the Bruins' success both in the circle and at the plate. The redshirt freshman is 13-7 with a 2.17 earned run average and 119 strikeouts in 116 innings, while hitting .292 with four home runs and 18 runs batted in.

Garcia has appeared in 28 of UCLA's 42 games in the circle, throwing five complete games and being a part of eight shutouts, including three solo blankings. In 18 of those 28 contests, she has allowed zero or one earned run. Garcia has at least five strikeouts in 10 games, including a career-best 10 against Kentucky on Feb. 15. At the plate, Garcia has hits in 10 of her last 12 games entering this weekend's series against California, while leaving the yard in three of her last 11. She has been honored by the Pac-12 Conference four times this season with two Pitcher of the Week awards (Feb. 21 and April 11) and two Freshman of the Week honors (March 28 and April 11), and once by USA Softball on April 11 when she was named National Player of the Week.

On May 11, the list will be trimmed down to the Top 10 finalists, while the Top Three finalists will be announced on May 24. The Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year trophy will be presented during a live ceremony on May 31 at the Women's College World Series.

The Bruins take on the Golden Bears this weekend, with the series starting on Friday at 7 p.m. at Easton Stadium. The game will air live on Pac-12 Network Los Angeles and feature live audio on UCLABruins.com.