Softball Has Six Honored As All-Big West Awards Announced

5/15/2024 12:40:00 PM | Softball

Sophia Fernandez, Makayla Medellin and Jocylyn Vidal received First Team honors.

By: Roger Kirk, Associate Athletics Director, Communications & Broadcast

LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Big West Conference announced All-Conference recognition for softball Wednesday, and Long Beach State had three first team selections and three other honorees following their second-place finish during the 2024 campaign.

                Senior pitcher Sophia Fernandez earned her third All-Big West selection was chosen for the First Team for the first time after an outstanding season for Long Beach State. Taking over the role as the team's ace, Fernandez struck out 86 batters with just 32 walks over 159.2 innings, throwing 14 complete games on the year.

                In conference play, Fernandez ranked in the Big West's Top 3 pitchers in wins, ERA, innings pitched and opposing batting average. Going 11-5 with a 1.73 ERA over 113.1 innings pitched, Fernandez started 18 games in Big West play and limited opponents to .221 hitting. The senior was previously a Second Team pick in 2023 and an Honorable Mention in 2022.

                Sophomore Makayla Medellin earned First Team honors for the second time in 2024. The Big West Freshman of the Year in 2023, Medellin had an even stronger season in 2024. Leading the Big West in conference play with a .461 batting average, Medellin hit .384 on the year for Long Beach State. The sophomore led the team in on-base percentage at .421 and in slugging at .527, hitting a team-high 10 doubles and sharing the team lead with three home runs on the year. Her 12-game hitting streak during the year was the best on the squad, and she closed the year by hitting .545 in the team's series against Cal State Fullerton.

                The final first team selection for the Beach was Jocylyn Vidal. A transfer to the Beach for one season, Vidal trailed only Medellin in batting on the year for Long Beach State and hit .357 in Big West play with 17 RBI, 7 doubles and three home runs in Big West play while walking 15 times.

                Senior Sara Olson also earned a third All-Big West selection with an Honorable Mention. Olson was third on the Long Beach State team with a .282 batting average in Big West play. Olson was second in the Big West with 31 walks on the year and finished the season with eight doubles and 10 stolen bases. Olson closed her time at the Beach with 47 stolen bases, ranking second all-time at Long Beach State and sitting in the program's career Top 5 in runs scored and triples as well.

                Junior Catcher Rebekah Durazo also earned received Honorable Mention. Durazo matched Vidal with 17 RBI during Big West play and hit three home runs along with four doubles. Her .477 slugging percentage for Long Beach State in conference play trailed only behind Medellin and Vidal for the Beach. Durazo starting 31 games behind the plate over the year while playing in 41 games total.

                Freshman Kate Barnett was selected for the All-Freshman Team. In Big West play, Barnett went 7-2 with a 1.94 ERA across 47.0 innings pitched, striking out 20 and holding opponents to a .264 batting average, numbers better than any other freshman in the conference and ranking among the Big West leaders.

                Long Beach State finished the 2024 Big West slate with a 20-7 overall record, finishing in second-place in the conference for the second time in the last four seasons to go with a pair of Big West titles in 2021 and 2023.