Garcia Named Top 3 Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year

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OKLAHOMA CITY - Senior Rachel Garcia has been named one of three finalists for the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, as announced on Wednesday.

The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award, which is considered the most prestigious honor in Division I women's collegiate softball, recognizes the outstanding athletic achievement by Division I female players across the country. The other finalists are Jocelyn Alo (Oklahoma) and Gabbie Plain (Washington). The award will be revealed prior to the Women's College World Series on June 1.

Garcia has won each of the last two POY awards handed out in 2018 and 2019. In addition, Bruin alum Stacey Nuveman was the first recipient in 2002.

Garcia, the Pac-12 Conference Player of the Year and an All-Pac-12 First Team selection, leads the nation with a 0.60 earned run average to go with a 14-0 record, two saves and 124 strikeouts in 94 innings. She has appeared in 22 games, making 12 starts, posting nine complete games and five solo shutouts. At the plate, Garcia has a team-best .766 slugging percentage, is second with 25 walks and a .496 on base percentage, tied for second with 11 home runs, third with a .362 batting average and fourth with 30 runs batted in, adding 20 runs scored and five doubles. A three-time Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week and two-time Pac-12 Player of the Week, Garcia has allowed zero or one earned run in all 22 of her appearances, reaching double-figure strikeouts four times. She pitched the second no-hitter of her career on April 16 at Oregon State. At the plate, she has hits in 29 of her 36 games.

The Bruins open up the postseason at Easton Stadium on Friday at 7:30 p.m. against Long Beach State. The game will be televised on ESPN2.