LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The UC Santa Barbara Softball team is putting in some final touches on their preseason practice before they embark on a six-game road trip to open their 2025 season. The Gauchos play a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 7 against Colorado State and host institution New Mexico State as they begin their third season under Head Coach, Jo Evans.
 
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
Evans has a roster of 20 student-athletes, 16 of whom are returning from last season, along with four newcomers. The newcomers include three freshmen: Giselle Mejia, Saige Anderson, and Delaina Ma'ae. The Gauchos also welcome one transfer from Seattle University, Grace Luderer, who was named the 2022 WAC Freshman of the Year.
 
With 80 percent of the roster returning, the Gauchos also return a lot of production both in the circle and in the box. At the plate the Blue and Gold return nearly 66 percent of their hits from a season ago and 59 percent of their runs scored. Additionally, four .300-plus hitters return to the lineup for the Gauchos. Alexa Sams, Ainsley Waddell, Elicia Acosta and Jazzy Santos all hit over .300 and were named All-Big West selections, the foursome will look to replicate their 2023 All-Big West seasons.
 
NEW YEAR, NEW FACES
Freshmen Giselle Mejia, Saige Anderson and Delaina Ma'ae will all look to produce in the lineup. The three freshmen were impressive in the fall and look to continue their success this spring while also growing and learning from an experienced group above them.
 
Grace Luderer comes in looking to fill a starting spot for the Gauchos. The 2022 Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Freshman of the Year, returns to her home state for her final season of collegiate softball. During her time at SeattleU she became the first freshman pitcher to strikeout 100 batters in a single season. Over her three years she wont 17 games in the circle while posting a 4.53 ERA.
 
ON THE ROAD
Like most other years the Gauchos will spend their first 16 games (three weekends) on the road. They begin in Las Cruces, New Mexico before making a short trip over to EL Paso, Texas. Then the next two weekends they will stay in California traveling to Fresno and then Palm Springs. Gaucho fans can get their first look of Santa Barbara Softball at home beginning on Thursday, Feb. 27 for their home-opening doubleheader against Saint Mary's.
 
PRESEASON RECOGNITION
The Big West has announced their Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-Big West Preseason Team last Thursday, Jan. 30. For UC Santa Barbara Softball, they have been voted to finish third in the conference. Along with that, Alexa Sams and Ainsley Waddell have been selected to the All-Big West Preseason Team.

This marks the highest the Gauchos have ranked in the preseason poll since 2008 and the second consecutive year the Gauchos have had multiple Preseason All-Big West selections. The Gauchos will look to build off a 20-28 overall record and a 14-13 Big West record from a season ago. Head Coach Jo Evans has led the Gauchos to consecutive 20-win season for the first time since 2017 and 2018. 

Sams is coming off a season that saw her recognized as an All-Big West Second Team selection where she batted .357 over 44 games, ranking second on the team and ninth in The Big West. The senior recorded eight doubles and one triple while driving in 22 runs. Sams, a career .326 hitter currently ranks ninth all-time in career batting average heading into her final season.

The reigning Big West Player of the Year adds another bullet point on the resume being named to the All-Big West Preseason team. This comes just after Waddell was named a Top 15 dual threat player by D1Softball.com. Waddell who enjoyed a standout freshman year hit .342 over 48 games while leading the team in doubles (14), runs batted in (35), slugging percentage (.523), and total bases (81). In the circle, Waddell was 5-11 with a 4.07 ERA over 87.2 innings pitched. Despite throwing the least amount of innings among qualified pitchers, she led the team in strikeouts with 57.
 
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
The New Mexico State Aggies will be the host institution for the first four games of this six-game road trip. The Aggies are coming off a 30-25 2024 season which saw them fall in the Conference USA Semifinal game to CUSA Champion Liberty.
 
Coming into this season NMSU was selected to finish third in Conference USA and much like the Gauchos had two athletes selected to the Preseason All-Conference USA Team. Junior, outfield, Devin Elam enjoyed a solid 2024 season and was recognized by the coaches to begin the year. The Long Beach native had 47 hits, a .405 average and a 1.021 OPS. In league play, she ranked third in hits (31), fifth in RBIs (21) and eighth in OPS (1.089).
 
Also receiving Preseason Honors was sophomore, pitcher, Desiare Spearman. The El Paso native was named the 2024 CUSA Player and Freshman of the Year along with being named to the UCCI/NFCA Division I National Freshman of Year Top 24 List. Her accolades did not stop there. She was named All-CUSA First Team as a Pitcher and Outfielder and a five time Freshman of the Week. This year she earned a spot on the D1Softball.com Preseason Top 100 players ranking 64^th.
 
SCOUTING THE RAMS
The Colorado State Rams enter 2025 after a 26-21 season a year ago. The Rams were bounced in the opening round of the Mountain West Championships by the third-seeded Nevada Wolf Pack.
 
CSU was predicted to finish sixth in the Mountain West Preseason Poll and sophomore Jailey Wilson was named to the Preseason Team. During the 2024 season, she was named to the All-Mountain West Second-Team after posting a .358 batting average, which ranked 20th overall in the conference. Wilson also added 19 hits, 10 runs scored and four home runs, which ranked 12th in the conference. The right-handed power-hitter finished the conference season slugging a .642, which also ranked 12th in the conference.
 
Brooke Bohlender returns for her senior season ready to lead a young Rams roster. The catcher returns the majority of Colorado State's at-bats from the 2024 starting lineup. As a team, the Rams return 349 at-bats, 126 credited to Bohlender. She finished the season with a .302 batting average, 38 hits, 17 RBI and a .444 slugging percentage. Defensively, Bohlender recorded 136 putouts, 15 assists and a .987 fielding percentage. CSU feature writer Mike Brohard sat down with Bohlender ahead of this season.
 
SCOUTING THE MINERS
Following their four game stint in Las Cruces the Gauchos will take the hour drive down interstate 10 to El Paso to take on the Miners. UTEP is coming off a 26-21 season seeing them fall in the Conference USA Championships to Liberty, the eventual CUSA Champion. The 26-21 finish was UTEP's first winning season in 14 years.
 
The Orange and Blue were tabbed seventh in the Preseason Poll and Aija Richard was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Starting all 47 games, she led the team in all offensive categories. She was the only Miner to record 50+ hits, 40+ RBIs, and 100+ total bases. Richard's season highlights include tying program records while earning numerous accolades, including CUSA Player of the Week (3/11), First Team All-CUSA, NFCA Second Team All-South Region, CSC Academic All-District, and CUSA All-Academic Team honors.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date details on how to watch and follow along with all of the weekend's action, check ucsbgauchos.com and the team's social media accounts.