Photo by: Will Navarro
CSUN Softball Preview; Part 2; The Infield
2/6/2023 9:42:00 AM | Softball
Part 1-Pitching and Catching
The CSUN Softball team opens its 46th season at the SDSU Season Kickoff Feb. 9-11. We continue with part two of our 2023 preview with the Matadors' infield.
Kaylee Escutia ended 2022 as CSUN's first baseman. She was named honorable mention All-Conference and to the All-Big West Freshman Team. Escutia posted 135 putouts in 15 games at first base and moved to second in the category (170). Her 19 putouts at first in the 12-inning 4-3 loss to UC Riverside on Apr. 23, 2022, tied her for the fourth-most in a game with two other players.
In 24 conference games, Escutia hit .324 with 11 RBI. She tied the school record for most walks in a game (with Amanda Peek at Cal Poly, 4/20/08) with four at UC Santa Barbara on May 13, 2022. She ended last season hitting .288 with one home run and 13 RBI.
Sydney Freijanes started 32 of 36 appearances at second base in 2022. The coaching staff expects her to play both middle infield positions in 2023. She was selected Big West Field Player of the Week and Big West Freshman of the Week on May 2 after tying the CSUN school record for most RBI in a game with seven as the Matadors defeated CSU Bakersfield on May 1. The seven-RBI performance ties her with Katie Hooper (vs. Grand Canyon, 2/20/15) and Jen Moshier (vs. Penn, 3/9/06) for the school record. She was 1-of-26 Division I players to tie for the 10th most RBI in a game. Freijanes went 6-for-7 at the plate in two games on the weekend. The sophomore from Long Beach tied with Escutia and Aaliyah Swan for sixth on the team in RBI (13).
Vinessa Nunez earned the starting nod at third base for the Matadors a year ago. The coaching staff looks forward to her playing shortstop and third base this season. Nunez started all 50 games in which she appeared. Her 109 at-bats were the seventh most on the team. Nunez posted 14 RBI, the fifth most on the team. She charted 18 hits, two of which were doubles, and had one home run. The sophomore walked 18 times, the second most on the squad.
Redshirt junior Mia Stankiewicz returns for a second season in a CSUN uniform. The coaching staff will look to take advantage of her versatility and have her play second, short, and third in 2023. She started 21-of-28 appearances last season. Her lone home run of the season proved to be the game winning run in the 4-3 defeat of UC Davis on Apr. 16, 2022. In addition, Stankiewicz charted seven walks, five RBI, and two doubles.
Mia Cortez posted 12 putouts at first base against California Baptist on Mar. 6, 2022. She played in 32 games, scoring eight runs. Sophomore Alexis Garcia appeared in 11 games last season and will look for more playing time in 2023. The coaching staff expects her to play first base and the outfield this season.
Three freshmen, Gizella Vargas Sandoval, Raegan Jackson, and Carys Murakami, will have a chance to see action in the infield for the Matadors. Vargas Sandoval is a utility player who earned second-team All-City honors as a junior at John F. Kennedy High School. She also has experience playing for the Junior Mexican National Team.
Murakami helped Maryknoll High School (Hawai'i) win the 2022 Datahouse/HHSAA Division I Softball championship. She went 3-4 with a home run, three RBI, and four runs scored in the 2022 state tournament semifinal game. Murakami led the state in hits with 35 as a senior and was selected 2022 Division I First Team All-Hawai'i by ScoringLive.com. In addition, she was named first-team All-League as a senior after hitting eight home runs. Murakami was a member of Team Polynesia 18U, which won the 2022 Triple Crown Softball International Challenge.
A 2022 American Canyon High School graduate, Jackson was selected 2022 Napa County Softball Player of the Year, 2022 Vine Valley Athletic League MVP, and 2022 Vine Valley Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, she was a Times-Herald Female Athlete of the Year candidate for 2021-22 after hitting .582 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI as a senior. She posted a .667 on-base percentage, 33 runs, 15 stolen bases, and 11 doubles in 2022.
"The infield has been working hard and getting better every day," said CSUN head coach Charlotte Morgan. "They have shown much growth through the fall and spring with many new faces. In addition, they all have the versatility to play multiple positions, bringing us many new and different looks defensively."
The CSUN Softball team opens its 46th season at the SDSU Season Kickoff Feb. 9-11. We continue with part two of our 2023 preview with the Matadors' infield.
Kaylee Escutia ended 2022 as CSUN's first baseman. She was named honorable mention All-Conference and to the All-Big West Freshman Team. Escutia posted 135 putouts in 15 games at first base and moved to second in the category (170). Her 19 putouts at first in the 12-inning 4-3 loss to UC Riverside on Apr. 23, 2022, tied her for the fourth-most in a game with two other players.
In 24 conference games, Escutia hit .324 with 11 RBI. She tied the school record for most walks in a game (with Amanda Peek at Cal Poly, 4/20/08) with four at UC Santa Barbara on May 13, 2022. She ended last season hitting .288 with one home run and 13 RBI.
Sydney Freijanes started 32 of 36 appearances at second base in 2022. The coaching staff expects her to play both middle infield positions in 2023. She was selected Big West Field Player of the Week and Big West Freshman of the Week on May 2 after tying the CSUN school record for most RBI in a game with seven as the Matadors defeated CSU Bakersfield on May 1. The seven-RBI performance ties her with Katie Hooper (vs. Grand Canyon, 2/20/15) and Jen Moshier (vs. Penn, 3/9/06) for the school record. She was 1-of-26 Division I players to tie for the 10th most RBI in a game. Freijanes went 6-for-7 at the plate in two games on the weekend. The sophomore from Long Beach tied with Escutia and Aaliyah Swan for sixth on the team in RBI (13).
Vinessa Nunez earned the starting nod at third base for the Matadors a year ago. The coaching staff looks forward to her playing shortstop and third base this season. Nunez started all 50 games in which she appeared. Her 109 at-bats were the seventh most on the team. Nunez posted 14 RBI, the fifth most on the team. She charted 18 hits, two of which were doubles, and had one home run. The sophomore walked 18 times, the second most on the squad.
Redshirt junior Mia Stankiewicz returns for a second season in a CSUN uniform. The coaching staff will look to take advantage of her versatility and have her play second, short, and third in 2023. She started 21-of-28 appearances last season. Her lone home run of the season proved to be the game winning run in the 4-3 defeat of UC Davis on Apr. 16, 2022. In addition, Stankiewicz charted seven walks, five RBI, and two doubles.
Mia Cortez posted 12 putouts at first base against California Baptist on Mar. 6, 2022. She played in 32 games, scoring eight runs. Sophomore Alexis Garcia appeared in 11 games last season and will look for more playing time in 2023. The coaching staff expects her to play first base and the outfield this season.
Three freshmen, Gizella Vargas Sandoval, Raegan Jackson, and Carys Murakami, will have a chance to see action in the infield for the Matadors. Vargas Sandoval is a utility player who earned second-team All-City honors as a junior at John F. Kennedy High School. She also has experience playing for the Junior Mexican National Team.
Murakami helped Maryknoll High School (Hawai'i) win the 2022 Datahouse/HHSAA Division I Softball championship. She went 3-4 with a home run, three RBI, and four runs scored in the 2022 state tournament semifinal game. Murakami led the state in hits with 35 as a senior and was selected 2022 Division I First Team All-Hawai'i by ScoringLive.com. In addition, she was named first-team All-League as a senior after hitting eight home runs. Murakami was a member of Team Polynesia 18U, which won the 2022 Triple Crown Softball International Challenge.
A 2022 American Canyon High School graduate, Jackson was selected 2022 Napa County Softball Player of the Year, 2022 Vine Valley Athletic League MVP, and 2022 Vine Valley Athletic League Offensive Player of the Year. In addition, she was a Times-Herald Female Athlete of the Year candidate for 2021-22 after hitting .582 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI as a senior. She posted a .667 on-base percentage, 33 runs, 15 stolen bases, and 11 doubles in 2022.
"The infield has been working hard and getting better every day," said CSUN head coach Charlotte Morgan. "They have shown much growth through the fall and spring with many new faces. In addition, they all have the versatility to play multiple positions, bringing us many new and different looks defensively."
~#UniteTheValley~
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