Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

UCLA Softball: Rachel Garcia named ESPNW Softball Player of the Year

By Mike Regalado

BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: The Bruins flag flies as the UCLA Bruins score a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 29, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. UCLA defeated Colorado 42-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 29: The Bruins flag flies as the UCLA Bruins score a touchdown against the Colorado Buffaloes at Folsom Field on September 29, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. UCLA defeated Colorado 42-14. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The UCLA softball team has had a lot of success this season, and that includes a huge individual award for sophomore Rachel Garcia who was named ESPNW Softball Player of the Year.

BOOM! The hits keep on coming for the UCLA softball team (pun intended and hopefully sparks several today as the Bruins prepare for their Super Regional matchup with Arizona) as redshirt sophomore Rachel Garcia was named ESPNW’s college softball Player of the Year.

RELATED: UCLA Softball in the Super Regionals: When and How To Watch…

Additionally, Garcia has been named as one of the four finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Basically, she is a big deal.

The Bruins have been on fire this season and though it has been a collective effort, one player has stood out head and shoulders above the rest. In several games this season, Garcia has been the spark that has propelled the Bruins to a 54-5 record, a regular season #1 overall ranking and an NCAA Tournament 3-seed.

You have heard of dual-threats in football, well they have them in softball too. As a batter, Garcia has been hitting an average of .357 (5th on the team), collected 56 hits (5th) and is second on UCLA in both homeruns (10) and RBIs (51). But that is only the half of it.

Garcia is also UCLA’s ace pitcher who has an ERA of 1.01 (5th in the Pac-12, 11th in the nation). Her 25-3 record was aided by her 255 strikeouts. With two more years of eligibility left, if football coach Chip Kelly needs another dual-threat, he should definitely consider adding Garcia into the QB mix!

Next: UCLA Football: What to know with 100 days to go until kickoff

Garcia and the Bruins begin the Super Regionals today against Arizona at Easton Stadium at 6 p.m. PT on the campus of UCLA. If they get two of three wins, then they head to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City next week. Go Bruins and congratulations, Rachel!