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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Rachel Garcia was named a Top 10 finalist 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 16-7 with a 1.86 earned run average and 150 strikeouts in 142 2/3 innings, while hitting .319 with four home runs and 22 runs batted in.

Garcia has appeared in 35 of UCLA's 52 games in the circle, throwing seven complete games and being a part of 11 shutouts, including four solo blankings. In 24 of those 35 contests, she has allowed zero or one earned run. Garcia has at least five strikeouts in a dozen games, including a career-best 10 against Kentucky on Feb. 15. At the plate, she has hits in 17 of her last 22 games. Garcia has been honored by the Pac-12 Conference six times this season with three Pitcher of the Week awards (Feb. 21, April 11 and April 25) and three Freshman of the Week honors (March 28, April 11 and April 25), and once by USA Softball on April 11 when she was named National Player of the Week.

On May 24, the list will be trimmed down to the Top Three finalists. 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 10th-ranked Bruins begin their final regular-season series at #22 Arizona State tonight at 6 p.m. The game will air on Pac-12 Network Los Angeles.