Lopez named Big West’s top freshman

Nicole Lopez capped her first season with the University of Hawaii softball program by claiming the Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year award on Wednesday.

Lopez, a Mid-Pacific graduate, started all 54 games at third base and led the Rainbow Wahine (24-30, 8-13 BWC) with a .287 batting average. She tied for the team lead with 23 runs batted in and finished second with five home runs. Her .292 average in Big West play was second for the team.

Lopez was also named honorable mention all-conference and earned a spot on the all-freshman team along with Wahine leadoff hitter Sarah Muzik, who finished second on the team with a .284 batting average.

Sophomore pitcher Brittany Hitchcock was named to the All-Big West second team for the second straight season. The right-hander went 13-15 overall with a 2.18 earned-run average, a mark she lowered to 1.72 in 15 Big West appearances. She finished with 103 strikeouts and leads the nation with 15 walks allowed in 177 innings.

Senior right-fielder Keiki Carlos earned conference honors for the third time in her career with a spot on the second team. Carlos hit .273 with 13 RBIs and three home runs in her final season.

Big West champion Cal State Fullerton claimed most of the major awards with honors going to Missy Taukeiaho (player of the year), Desiree Ybarra (pitcher of the year), Sydney Golden (freshman pitcher of the year) and Kelly Ford (coach of the year). Cal State Northridge catcher Karlie Habitz was the defensive player of the year.