Carranco Named Freshman Pitcher of the Year; 6 Matadors Earn All-Conference Honors
5/14/2023 9:07:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—Lauryn Carranco's Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year honors led the way for the Matadors as the conference revealed its postseason honors Tuesday afternoon.
A first-team All-Conference selection, Carranco led CSUN in wins (9), strikeouts (77), and innings pitched (96.1). She was second on the team in solo shutouts (2) and saves (2). In Big West-only games, Carranco tied with Long Beach State's Shannon Haddad for second in victories (9), fifth in saves (2), ninth in innings pitched (72), and ninth in strikeouts (57). Carranco was named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Week three times (the second most in the league this season) and was also named to the Big West All-Freshman team. She is the second Matador pitcher to be named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year (Zoe Conley, 2015).
Joining Carranco on the first team is Mikayla Carman. Carman tied for the team lead in hitting with Kaylee Escutia (.333). Carman's 52 hits were a team-high. She was second on the Matadors in RBI (28), runs scored (28), and triples (3). In Big West-only statistics, Carman ranked fifth in hits (31), seventh in hitting (.352), seventh in RBI (16), and seventh in at-bats (77). She was named Big West Field Player of the Week on May 8.
Earning second-team All-Conference honors were Escutia and Shaylan Whatman. In addition to her team lead in hitting, Escutia paced the Matadors in home runs (5), RBI (30), and slugging percentage (.545). She was second on the squad in doubles (9) and third in runs (24). In Big West-only statistics, Escutia was first in RBI (23), second in home runs (5), sixth in slugging (.568), and eighth in doubles (8). She was named Big West Field Player of the Week on May 15.
Whatman led CSUN in runs scored with 32. Whatman was hit by a pitch a team-high 16 times (the fourth most in a season by a CSUN player at the Division I level), and with her 22 walks (second on the team), she posted a team-best .465 on-base percentage. Whatman also led the team in doubles (11). The redshirt junior was second on the Matadors in home runs with four. In Big West-only statistics, Whatman was third in on-base percentage (.495), third in runs scored (23), third in walks (16), and fifth in doubles (7).
Selected honorable mention All-Conference were Isabella Alonso and Allie Gardiner. Alonso, who was also named to the Big West All-Freshman team, went 8-4 in the circle with a 2.64 ERA. She led the team in solo shutouts (3). Alonso was second on the team in innings pitched (95.1), complete games (4), and strikeouts (77). In Big West-only statistics, Alonso was fourth in opposing batting average (.194), fourth in hits allowed (35), seventh in runs allowed (17), and eighth in ERA (1.76).
Gardiner's 26 appearances tied Alonso for the team lead. She led the team in ERA (2.36) and saves (4). She was 5-2 overall. In Big West-only statistics, Gardiner was the league leader in saves (4), fourth in runs allowed (16), fifth in hits allowed (35), sixth in ERA (1.65), and seventh in opponent batting average (.214). Gardiner has recorded 22 career saves in six seasons between UT Arlington and CSUN, the fifth most in NCAA Division I history.
Carman, Escutia, and Gardiner were also named to the 2023 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators on May 16, recognizing the trio for their performance in the classroom. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-
America® honorees will be announced June 6.
CSUN (28-22) returns to the postseason for the first time since 2015 Thursday when the Matadors open the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) against Maryland (36-17) at 10 a.m. MDT/9 a.m. PDT.
A first-team All-Conference selection, Carranco led CSUN in wins (9), strikeouts (77), and innings pitched (96.1). She was second on the team in solo shutouts (2) and saves (2). In Big West-only games, Carranco tied with Long Beach State's Shannon Haddad for second in victories (9), fifth in saves (2), ninth in innings pitched (72), and ninth in strikeouts (57). Carranco was named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Week three times (the second most in the league this season) and was also named to the Big West All-Freshman team. She is the second Matador pitcher to be named Big West Freshman Pitcher of the Year (Zoe Conley, 2015).
Joining Carranco on the first team is Mikayla Carman. Carman tied for the team lead in hitting with Kaylee Escutia (.333). Carman's 52 hits were a team-high. She was second on the Matadors in RBI (28), runs scored (28), and triples (3). In Big West-only statistics, Carman ranked fifth in hits (31), seventh in hitting (.352), seventh in RBI (16), and seventh in at-bats (77). She was named Big West Field Player of the Week on May 8.
Earning second-team All-Conference honors were Escutia and Shaylan Whatman. In addition to her team lead in hitting, Escutia paced the Matadors in home runs (5), RBI (30), and slugging percentage (.545). She was second on the squad in doubles (9) and third in runs (24). In Big West-only statistics, Escutia was first in RBI (23), second in home runs (5), sixth in slugging (.568), and eighth in doubles (8). She was named Big West Field Player of the Week on May 15.
Whatman led CSUN in runs scored with 32. Whatman was hit by a pitch a team-high 16 times (the fourth most in a season by a CSUN player at the Division I level), and with her 22 walks (second on the team), she posted a team-best .465 on-base percentage. Whatman also led the team in doubles (11). The redshirt junior was second on the Matadors in home runs with four. In Big West-only statistics, Whatman was third in on-base percentage (.495), third in runs scored (23), third in walks (16), and fifth in doubles (7).
Selected honorable mention All-Conference were Isabella Alonso and Allie Gardiner. Alonso, who was also named to the Big West All-Freshman team, went 8-4 in the circle with a 2.64 ERA. She led the team in solo shutouts (3). Alonso was second on the team in innings pitched (95.1), complete games (4), and strikeouts (77). In Big West-only statistics, Alonso was fourth in opposing batting average (.194), fourth in hits allowed (35), seventh in runs allowed (17), and eighth in ERA (1.76).
Gardiner's 26 appearances tied Alonso for the team lead. She led the team in ERA (2.36) and saves (4). She was 5-2 overall. In Big West-only statistics, Gardiner was the league leader in saves (4), fourth in runs allowed (16), fifth in hits allowed (35), sixth in ERA (1.65), and seventh in opponent batting average (.214). Gardiner has recorded 22 career saves in six seasons between UT Arlington and CSUN, the fifth most in NCAA Division I history.
Carman, Escutia, and Gardiner were also named to the 2023 Academic All-District® Softball Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators on May 16, recognizing the trio for their performance in the classroom. Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First-, second and third-team Academic All-
America® honorees will be announced June 6.
CSUN (28-22) returns to the postseason for the first time since 2015 Thursday when the Matadors open the National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) against Maryland (36-17) at 10 a.m. MDT/9 a.m. PDT.
~#UniteTheValley~
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