California State University Northridge Athletics
Sojka and Braun Earn Preseason Honors, CSUN Picked 7th in Coaches Poll
2/10/2023 12:31:00 PM | Baseball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.---A pair of CSUN Baseball student-athletes were named to the 2023 Big West Baseball Preseason Coaches' Team on Friday, the league office announced. Junior outfielder Andrew Sojka and junior right-handed pitcher Lucas Braun were both placed on the 11-member preseason all-conference squad while the Matadors were picked to finish seventh by the league's head coaches.
A Huntington Beach native, Sojka received All-Big West First Team honors in his first season with CSUN in 2022. The only Matador to play in the team's 54 games, Sojka finished third in The Big West in doubles (18), fourth in runs scored (46), fifth in hits (70) and eighth in batting average (.335) and stolen bases (9). The left-handed swinging Sojka would post a .420 on-base percentage while slugging .488 at the plate. He finished tops on the team in numerous categories including hits, runs, doubles, stolen bases and walks (30).
After being moved to the leadoff position during league play, Sojka especially produced at the plate as he slashed .365/437/.540 against Big West opponents.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Braun would begin his first season at CSUN as a late-game relief pitcher before earning a weekend starting role. An All-Big West Second Team selection, Braun finished last season fourth in the conference in earned run average (2.91), sixth in wins (7), ninth in strikeouts (77) and 10th in innings pitched (74.1) in 20 appearances. He limited batters to a .226 average at the plate for the year while he registered one complete game.
After being inserted into the starting rotation near the start of Big West play, Braun flourished in his new role and posted a 7-1 record with a 1.40 ERA over 10 starts. Braun went on to post a 5-2 record to go with a 2.56 ERA and 56 strikeouts against league opponents.
In the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, UC Santa Barbara was selected first with eight first-place votes and 96 points followed by UC Irvine in second with 84 points. Long Beach State was third with one first-place vote and 79 points while Cal Poly was fourth (71 points). Cal State Fullerton was fifth (68 points, one first-place vote) and Hawai'i was sixth (66 points, one first-place vote). Below CSUN, UC San Diego came in eighth, UC Davis was ninth, CSU Bakersfield was 10th and UC Riverside finished 11th.
The Matadors finished last season with a 32-22 overall record and a 17-13 mark in conference play. CSUN was picked to finish seventh in The Big West prior to last season but defied those expectations by finishing tied for fourth place. CSUN has finished in fourth in the conference in each of the past two seasons and have posted consecutive winning conference records for the first since joining The Big West in 2001.
CSUN opens the 2023 season next Friday, Feb. 17 against Stony Brook at Matador Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
#UniteTheValley
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A Huntington Beach native, Sojka received All-Big West First Team honors in his first season with CSUN in 2022. The only Matador to play in the team's 54 games, Sojka finished third in The Big West in doubles (18), fourth in runs scored (46), fifth in hits (70) and eighth in batting average (.335) and stolen bases (9). The left-handed swinging Sojka would post a .420 on-base percentage while slugging .488 at the plate. He finished tops on the team in numerous categories including hits, runs, doubles, stolen bases and walks (30).
After being moved to the leadoff position during league play, Sojka especially produced at the plate as he slashed .365/437/.540 against Big West opponents.
Hailing from Los Angeles, Braun would begin his first season at CSUN as a late-game relief pitcher before earning a weekend starting role. An All-Big West Second Team selection, Braun finished last season fourth in the conference in earned run average (2.91), sixth in wins (7), ninth in strikeouts (77) and 10th in innings pitched (74.1) in 20 appearances. He limited batters to a .226 average at the plate for the year while he registered one complete game.
After being inserted into the starting rotation near the start of Big West play, Braun flourished in his new role and posted a 7-1 record with a 1.40 ERA over 10 starts. Braun went on to post a 5-2 record to go with a 2.56 ERA and 56 strikeouts against league opponents.
In the 2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll, UC Santa Barbara was selected first with eight first-place votes and 96 points followed by UC Irvine in second with 84 points. Long Beach State was third with one first-place vote and 79 points while Cal Poly was fourth (71 points). Cal State Fullerton was fifth (68 points, one first-place vote) and Hawai'i was sixth (66 points, one first-place vote). Below CSUN, UC San Diego came in eighth, UC Davis was ninth, CSU Bakersfield was 10th and UC Riverside finished 11th.
The Matadors finished last season with a 32-22 overall record and a 17-13 mark in conference play. CSUN was picked to finish seventh in The Big West prior to last season but defied those expectations by finishing tied for fourth place. CSUN has finished in fourth in the conference in each of the past two seasons and have posted consecutive winning conference records for the first since joining The Big West in 2001.
CSUN opens the 2023 season next Friday, Feb. 17 against Stony Brook at Matador Field. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Team
| Lucas Braun | Jr. | Pitcher | CSUN |
| Connor Burns | Jr. | Catcher | Long Beach State |
| Michael Gutierrez | Jr. | Pitcher | UC Santa Barbara |
| Caden Kendle | Jr. | Outfielder | UC Irvine |
| Jonathon Long | So. | Infielder | Long Beach State |
| Broc Mortensen | R-Sr. | Outfielder | UC Santa Barbara |
| Jalen Smith | Sr. | Infielder | UC San Diego |
| Andrew Sojka | Jr. | Outfielder | CSUN |
| Ryan Stafford | So. | Catcher | Cal Poly |
| Mark Wolbert | So. | Outfielder | UC Davis |
| Joe Yorke | Jr. | Infielder | Cal Poly |
2023 Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll
| 1. | UC Santa Barbara | 96 points (8) |
| 2. | UC Irvine | 84 points |
| 3. | Long Beach State | 79 points (1) |
| 4. | Cal Poly | 71 points |
| 5. | Cal State Fullerton | 68 points (1) |
| 6. | Hawai'i | 66 points (1) |
| 7. | CSUN | 45 points |
| 8. | UC San Diego | 33 points |
| 9. | UC Davis | 28 points |
| 10. | CSU Bakersfield | 23 points |
| 11. | UC Riverside | 12 points |
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