Long Beach State University Athletics
Meza, Rowland, Hernandez All Garner NFCA All-Region Selection
5/17/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Long Beach, Calif. - Sophomores Cielo Meza and Taylor Rowland were both chosen as First-Team NFCA All-Region selections, while Naomi Hernandez earned second team honors as Long Beach State had three players honored for the first time since 2004.
The two first-team selections for Long Beach State were the most since 2004 as well. Member coaches vote on the awards, with those selected becoming eligible for All-America consideration. Long Beach State is part of the West Region.
Cielo Meza, in her first full campaign at Long Beach State, has had a phenomenal season, posting a 22-4 overall record with a 1.48 ERA and 217 strikeouts, leading the Big West in all three triple crown categories. Meza was honored earlier this week as the Big West Pitcher of the Year, and also earned first-team All-Big West honors.
Taylor Rowland has been the primary run producer for Long Beach State, batting .358 on the season and driving in a school-record 58 RBI, among the nation's leaders. A first-team All-Big West selection, Rowland slugged .642 in the regular season and is the Long Beach State leader in home runs in 2018 with 12.
The Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year, Naomi Hernandez was one of three outfielders selected to the second team. Hernandez is Long Beach State's batting leader with an average of .388, and her 71 hits this season led the conference. With a .462 on-base percentage and four home runs, Hernandez has been a catalyst at the top of the lineup all-season long for Long Beach State.
