UCSB's Shelby Wisdom
A total of seven Gauchos garnered All-Big West distinction, marking the most since the 2008 season.
Wisdom and junior outfielder Jessica Soria were both named to the All-Big West First Team. Senior catcher Lainey DePompa, sophomore second baseman Kathryn Pilpil, junior shortstop Keilani Jennings, freshman infielder Jenessa Jeppesen and senior designated player Allison Taylor all garnered All-Big West Honorable Mention accolades.
Wisdom had a standout freshman season for UCSB both in the circle and at the plate. The Elk Grove, Calif. native has garnered the program’s first Freshman Field Player of the Year honor and is the first Gaucho freshman to earn All-Big West First Team honors since Krista Cobb did in 2009.
At the plate, she hit .271 with five home runs, 19 runs, and 22 RBI. In league games, she hit a blistering .417 with nine runs, 15 RBI and a .646 slugging percentage. In the circle, Wisdom was dominant and led the league in wins (24), innings pitched (266.2), games started (37) and appearances (50). The freshman dented the Big West record book, ranking second in single season appearances, and also set a UCSB single-season record in wins and strikeouts (247).
Galicinao led UCSB to its best conference finish since 2008 and its best league record (15-6) in program lore. This marks her second Coach of the Year honor; her first came in 2008 when she shared the accolade with Long Beach State’s Kim Sowder. This season, UCSB finished with a 30-28 overall record, marking the fourth winning season in her five-year career and her second 30-win season. She is the first Gaucho softball coach to be honored twice by the league.
Soria, who is in her first season with UCSB after transferring from Arizona Western College, played every game in center field for the Gauchos this season. The junior was second on the squad in batting with a .291 average and led the team in hits (58), runs (29), and stolen bases (25). She topped the league in stolen bases, ranked third in hits, eighth in runs, and fifth in triples (2).
DePompa, a four-year starter for the Gauchos, has garnered her first league honor. The senior hit a career-best .272 this season ? she posted a .306 average in league play ? with five home runs and 20 RBI. The catcher led the Big West in runners caught stealing (16), was seventh in sacrifice bunts (9) and third in sacrifice flies (3).
Pilpil has garnered the second All-Big West Honorable Mention accolade of her career. The second baseman led the Gauchos with her .370 on-base percentage and reached safely in 26 of the last 29 games. She was third on the team in batting (.277), and second in hits (46), runs (24) and walks (24).
Jennings is also a two-time All-Big West honoree after garnering First Team honors last season. She hit .252 this season and ranked third in the league in walks (26), fourth in home runs (7) and ninth in total bases (72). The shortstop also led UCSB with 10 doubles this year. In league games, she hit .306 and posted a .548 slugging percentage.
Jeppesen garners Honorable Mention accolades in her first season as a Gaucho. The freshman was a standout during league play, compiling a .353 batting average with four home runs and 11 RBI against Big West competition. She was named Big West Player of the Week after leading the Gauchos to a series sweep of Cal Poly.
Taylor ends her career with her second league honor. The senior earned All-Big West Second Team honors last year. The designated player and outfielder compiled a .238 batting average and led the team with 25 RBI on the year.
