Photo by: Chuck Marvel
Nine Matadors Earn Big-West Awards
5/6/2025 12:09:00 PM | Softball
NORTHRIDGE, Calif.— Nine Matadors earned Big West honors for the 2025 softball season as the conference announced its postseason awards on Tuesday, May 6.
Lauryn Carranco and Tiara Westbrook led the way as both were named to the All-Big West First Team. MIkayla Carman and Alexis Chavez were named to the All-Big West Second Team, while Kaylee Escutia, Kylie Galindo, Raegan Jackson, Alexa Landeros, and Jadyn Nielsen rounded out the list as they took home Honorable Mention honors. This announcement marks the most CSUN players to be honored by the Big West since 1998.
In her first season as a Matador, Westbrook had a season to remember. The sophomore from Arcadia is currently leading the Matadors in batting average (.358), OPS (1.063), home runs (10), on base percentage (.443), slugging percentage (.620) and total bases (85). She's also second on the team in hits with 49. Earlier this season she had a superb performance in the Mary Nutter Classic, taking home Big West Player of the Week honors for her contributions. She hit .588 with a .882 slugging percentage in the tournament. The all-conference selection is the first for Westbrook.
Carranco also took home First Team honors as the junior from Clovis leads CSUN in a myriad of pitching categories. She leads the team in ERA (2.71), WHIP (1.17), wins (14), complete games (19), innings pitched (170.2) and strikeouts (104). Carranco was named All-Big West Second Team in 2024, and this is her first appearance on the First Team since her freshman year (2023).
In her senior year, Carman earned recognition for the fourth time in her career. The outfielder from Huntington Beach currently leads the team in hits with 50. She's third on the team in batting average at .323 and has had the most at-bats on the team with 155, while striking out only six times all year. Carman also led the team in walks with 23. She was previously named First Team All-Big West in both 2023 and 2024 and was a second team selection in 2022 in addition to being named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
This marks the first time in Chavez's career that she is earning an honor from the Big West. The senior from Riverside is having her best season, hitting .330 with 33 hits and 10 RBIs. She has 19 runs scored and four doubles, while improving her average from .227 in 2024 to .330 this season. Chavez is also fourth on the team in OBP with a .417 clip.
Escutia earned Honorable Mention accolades for her performance over the year. Escutia had 10 RBIs and ranked eighth on the Matadors with a .339 on base percentage. A Second Team All-Big West selection in 2023, an Honorable Mention and All-Freshman Team pick in 2022, this is Escutia's fourth Big West honor in her four years.
Galindo is having her best season in her four years as a Matador which helped her earn Honorable Mention honors. She batted almost 100 points higher from her junior year as she finished the regular season with a .321 average in 42 games. She has 35 hits and 14 RBIs. She also finished the season with 11 walks and has only struck out only seven times.
Jackson earned Honorable Mention recognition after improving her batting average to .270 this season. Known for her spectacular defensive plays, including robbing a home run versus UC San Diego, she posted 20 hits, 21 runs scored while also mashing two home runs. Jackson also led the team in hit-by-pitches with 15.
Landeros earned Honorable Mention honors as she was a mainstay in the Matadors lineup all season. Starting all 36 games in the outfield, Landeros had 20 hits, including one home run, and nine RBIs in the regular season. This is her first Big West recognition in her four years as a Matador.
Nielsen also earned Honorable Mention honors for her improvement at the plate this season. She is hitting .306 in 32 games started. With an on base percentage of .364, Nielsen has 30 hits and 18 RBIs. It is her first Big West award since becoming a Matador in 2024.
CSUN opens the inaugural 2025 Big West Softball Championship on Thursday in Fullerton. The Matadors will meet the winner of the UCSB and UCSD first round game on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.
#GoMatadors
Lauryn Carranco and Tiara Westbrook led the way as both were named to the All-Big West First Team. MIkayla Carman and Alexis Chavez were named to the All-Big West Second Team, while Kaylee Escutia, Kylie Galindo, Raegan Jackson, Alexa Landeros, and Jadyn Nielsen rounded out the list as they took home Honorable Mention honors. This announcement marks the most CSUN players to be honored by the Big West since 1998.
In her first season as a Matador, Westbrook had a season to remember. The sophomore from Arcadia is currently leading the Matadors in batting average (.358), OPS (1.063), home runs (10), on base percentage (.443), slugging percentage (.620) and total bases (85). She's also second on the team in hits with 49. Earlier this season she had a superb performance in the Mary Nutter Classic, taking home Big West Player of the Week honors for her contributions. She hit .588 with a .882 slugging percentage in the tournament. The all-conference selection is the first for Westbrook.
Carranco also took home First Team honors as the junior from Clovis leads CSUN in a myriad of pitching categories. She leads the team in ERA (2.71), WHIP (1.17), wins (14), complete games (19), innings pitched (170.2) and strikeouts (104). Carranco was named All-Big West Second Team in 2024, and this is her first appearance on the First Team since her freshman year (2023).
In her senior year, Carman earned recognition for the fourth time in her career. The outfielder from Huntington Beach currently leads the team in hits with 50. She's third on the team in batting average at .323 and has had the most at-bats on the team with 155, while striking out only six times all year. Carman also led the team in walks with 23. She was previously named First Team All-Big West in both 2023 and 2024 and was a second team selection in 2022 in addition to being named to the Big West All-Freshman Team.
This marks the first time in Chavez's career that she is earning an honor from the Big West. The senior from Riverside is having her best season, hitting .330 with 33 hits and 10 RBIs. She has 19 runs scored and four doubles, while improving her average from .227 in 2024 to .330 this season. Chavez is also fourth on the team in OBP with a .417 clip.
Escutia earned Honorable Mention accolades for her performance over the year. Escutia had 10 RBIs and ranked eighth on the Matadors with a .339 on base percentage. A Second Team All-Big West selection in 2023, an Honorable Mention and All-Freshman Team pick in 2022, this is Escutia's fourth Big West honor in her four years.
Galindo is having her best season in her four years as a Matador which helped her earn Honorable Mention honors. She batted almost 100 points higher from her junior year as she finished the regular season with a .321 average in 42 games. She has 35 hits and 14 RBIs. She also finished the season with 11 walks and has only struck out only seven times.
Jackson earned Honorable Mention recognition after improving her batting average to .270 this season. Known for her spectacular defensive plays, including robbing a home run versus UC San Diego, she posted 20 hits, 21 runs scored while also mashing two home runs. Jackson also led the team in hit-by-pitches with 15.
Landeros earned Honorable Mention honors as she was a mainstay in the Matadors lineup all season. Starting all 36 games in the outfield, Landeros had 20 hits, including one home run, and nine RBIs in the regular season. This is her first Big West recognition in her four years as a Matador.
Nielsen also earned Honorable Mention honors for her improvement at the plate this season. She is hitting .306 in 32 games started. With an on base percentage of .364, Nielsen has 30 hits and 18 RBIs. It is her first Big West award since becoming a Matador in 2024.
CSUN opens the inaugural 2025 Big West Softball Championship on Thursday in Fullerton. The Matadors will meet the winner of the UCSB and UCSD first round game on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. at Anderson Family Field.
#GoMatadors
Players Mentioned
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