Redshirt sophomore Rachel Garcia is the third winner of the NFCA Player of the Year award.
Photo by: Joshua Gateley
Rachel Garcia Named NFCA Player of the Year
June 07, 2018 | Softball
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Redshirt sophomore Rachel Garcia, who was already named USA Softball and ESPNW National Player of the Year this season, earned another national POY award on Thursday, recording Schutt Sports/NFCA Player of the Year accolades.
In just the third year of the award, Garcia joins the past two recipients, Megan Good (2017 - James Madison) and Sierra Romero (2016 - Michigan).
Garcia, an NFCAย First Team All-American, led the Bruins' pitching staff with a 1.31 earned run average, a 29-4 record and 315 strikeouts in 208 innings, while adding a .339 batting average, 11 home runs and 54 runs batted in, the latter two categories ranking second on the team. Garcia pitched 21 complete games and was a part of 11 shutouts, including nine solo blankings, adding two saves and limiting opponents to a .143 batting average. At the plate, she was third with 23 walks and first with six sacrifice flies.
This season, Garcia earned a plethora of awards: NFCAย First Team All-Region, Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year, All-Pac-12 First Team, two-time NFCA National Pitcher of the Week (April 17 and 24), two-time USA Softball National Player of the Week (Feb. 27 and April 17), one-time NFCA National Player of the Week (Feb. 27), four-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week (April 16, April 23, May 7 and May 14) and one-time Pac-12 Player of the Week (April 16).ย
Garcia pitched in 23 of the Bruins' 27 innings in the WCWS, recording 42 strikeouts, a pair of wins and three complete games. She struck out 15 in both Bruin victories against Florida State (May 31) and Florida (June 1), adding 12 strikeouts in nine innings on June 3 versus FSU. At the plate, she had an RBI single in game one of the June 3 doubleheader against FSU. Garcia threw 65 1/3 of UCLA's 75 1/3 innings in the NCAA Tournament, striking out 97 and posting a 1.82 earned run average and an 8-2 record. At the plate, she hit .273 (9-for-33) with 10 RBI, which was second on the team, and two homers, which was tied for second.
Players Mentioned
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