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2023 Pac-12 Softball Tournament

May 10-13, 2023 | Tucson, AZ | Hillenbrand Stadium

These Pac-12 freshmen have shined bright to begin the 2023 softball season

by Ryan Kelapire
Feb 21, 2023
Photo of Ruby Meylan courtesy Washington Athletics

Pac-12 softball is off to a solid start in 2023 with a 72-22 record through the first two weeks of the season. It wouldn't have been possible without some phenomenal performances from the freshman class.

Here are some standouts who have wasted no time making an impact on their new teams (listed in school order).

Olivia DiNardo, C/DP — Arizona

DiNardo has provided a big boost to the second-best offense in the league, hitting .400 with a homer and four RBI. Her lone long ball was key in a 6-2 win over then-No. 8 Virginia Tech at the Clearwater Invitational. DiNardo also doubled in that game, sending both hits to the opposite field.

The left-handed-hitting catcher has started in eight games during Arizona's 7-3 start, mostly serving as the designated player, a role she will likely keep until next season when the Wildcats will need to replace fifth-year senior Izzy Pacho behind the plate.

Freshman shortstop Tayler Biehl (.533 AVG) and outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer (.529 AVG) are also worth highlighting here. The speedsters have started in half as many games as DiNardo, but lead Arizona in batting average.

Kylee Magee, P — Arizona State

The Anaheim native has seen the most action among ASU's pitchers, compiling a 2.47 ERA in 17 innings. Magee's best outing was a five-inning shutout of Portland State. She has been pretty consistent so far, allowing three runs or less in all four of her appearances.

The Sun Devils' offense again leads the Pac-12 in homers, so they could exceed expectations if Magee and the rest of their retooled pitching staff continues to produce quality outings.

NiJaree Canady, P/DP — Stanford

Canady has been flawless for the Cardinal, allowing just four hits in 22 scoreless innings to begin her career. That includes a five-inning no-hitter vs. Liberty and a three-hit shutout at then-No. 13 Georgia. The former Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year has fanned 41 batters in her 22 innings, the best strikeout rate in the Pac-12 (13.05 K/7). Paired with senior ace Alana Vawter, Stanford arguably has the best 1-2 punch in the Pac-12.

A two-way player, Canady also drove in a run with a double in her first career at-bat.

River Mahler, 2B — Stanford

Another fabulous freshman on The Farm, Mahler is currently leading the Pac-12 with a .613 batting average. Starting every game at second base, Mahler is 19 for 31 with three doubles and seven RBI. She had three hits and drove in the game-winning run in the first of Stanford's two road wins vs. Georgia.

The Washington native has recorded six multi-hit games so far, including a four-hit performance vs. Charlotte. Her consistency has allowed her to quickly move up from No. 9 to No. 2 in Stanford's batting order. 

The emergence of Mahler and Canady raises the ceiling of a veteran Stanford team that reached Super Regionals last season and is currently ranked No. 16 in the country.

Megan Grant, UTL — UCLA

UCLA is off to a 12-0 start and overtook Oklahoma this week as the No. 1 team in the country. Grant is a big reason for that, already driving in 15 runs, tied with Maya Brady for the most on the team.

Grant's line-drive single to right field brought home the game-winning runs in the seventh inning of UCLA's win over then-No. 6 Florida State on Saturday, then she kicked off the scoring with a two-run single in the Bruins' victory over then-No. 8 Virginia Tech later in the day.

Grant's versatility gives UCLA's lineup a lot of flexibility as she has already started games at four different positions — shortstop, third base, right field and designated player.

Jordan Woolery, 1B — UCLA

Woolery is another key member of the Bruins' freshman class, hitting .452 with 14 RBI, the third-most on the team. Four of them came via a first-inning grand slam in a win over then-No. 15 Alabama, one of six extra-base hits Woolery has recorded this season.

The Walnut Creek, California native has logged at least one hit in eight of UCLA's 12 games, including five multi-hit games. The Bruins lead the Pac-12 with 93 runs scored.

Karlie Davidson, SS — Utah

Davidson has stepped in nicely at shortstop, matching Ellesa Bonstrom with a team-best 11 RBI and Julia Jimenez with a team-high two homers. Davidson has driven in at least one run in six games during Utah's 7-3 start.

And despite shortstop being arguably the toughest position for a freshman, Davidson has only committed one error so far.

Ruby Meylan, P — Washington

Replacing Gabbie Plain was never going to be easy for the Huskies, but Meylan has at least matched the former ace in one category, becoming UW's first freshman to throw a complete-game shutout since Plain in 2018. That came in Meylan's very first career start (vs. Liberty).

Meylan hasn't slowed down since, allowing just two earned runs over 29 innings of work, giving her the second-best ERA (0.52) in the Pac-12 behind Canady. Meylan's 40 strikeouts are tied with Utah's Mariah Lopez for the third-most in the Conference.

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