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The University of Utah Athletics
Mariah Lopez Named to USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List
1/24/2024 12:20 PM | Softball
Lopez is first Ute since 2018 named to USA Softball Watch List
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – University of Utah softball's senior pitcher Mariah Lopez earned a spot on the USA Softball Player of the Year Top 50 Watch List, which was released on Wednesday.
Lopez is the first Ute to collect this distinction since Alyssa Barrera was a player of the year watch list selection in 2018.
This recognition comes after a 2023 season in which Lopez became the first Utah hurler to be named an All-American since Ali Sagas in 1994. Lopez was also a first-team all-conference and first-team all-region pick, having racked up 23 wins and 206 strikeouts, both of which ranked in the top three in the Pac-12. She finished in the top 10 in the league in innings pitched, complete games, strikeout rate and ERA as well and became the first Ute to win two Pac-12 Pitcher of the Week awards in one season. Seven of her triumphs came in the postseason, including a victory over No. 2 UCLA in the Pac-12 Tournament title game, helping her earn the tournament's most outstanding player honor.
Each NCAA Softball season, USA Softball recognizes a Collegiate Player of the Year based on outstanding play over the course of the entire season. At the beginning of each season, USA Softball issues a Top 50 "Watch List" for Player of the Year, followed by a list of finalists that narrows from Top 25 to Top 10 and Top 3. The USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year is awarded during a team reception the week of the WCWS.
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