SACRAMENTO -- Seven Hornets received Big Sky all-conference recognition, highlighted by senior outfielder Lafulafu Malepeai being named the league's player of the year. 

Malepeai becomes the third Sacramento State player in program history to receive Big Sky MVP honors, joining Lewa Day (2024) and Suzy Brookshire (2018). 

Also receiving an individual award was junior shortstop Madi Mendoza, who was named the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year. She becomes just the second Hornet to earn the award, joining Malepeai who was the recipient a year ago.

Malepeai was joined on the first team by third baseman Madison Evers-Lyles. Four Hornets were named second team, including pitchers Kennedie Bacon and Alexa Ortiz, as well as catcher Shannon Garcia and Saskia Raab. Mendoza was recipient of honorable mention all-league accolades.

Of the seven players honored, all but two will return next season (Malepeai and Bacon are seniors).

Winners of four straight, Sacramento State (30-17, 9-6) will play at 15th-ranked Stanford on Friday night before beginning the Big Sky Tournament on Monday in Pocatello, Idaho. The Hornets are the No. 3 seed at the event, and open on Monday at 10:30 a.m. PT vs. No. 6 seed Portland State.

Lafulafu Malepeai, Sr., OF, Big Sky Player of the Year, First Team
• Named Big Sky Player of the Year, the third player in program history to earn the award
• Also a unanimous first team all-conference selection
• Last season, she was named the Big Sky's Newcomer of the Year, and second team all-conference
• One of three Hornets to start all 47 games
• Hitting .405 with 29 walks, eight stolen bases, 39 runs, 15 homers, 48 RBIs, a .791 slugging percentage and .506 on-base percentage.
• Leads the Big Sky in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, OPS (1.297) and walks
• Had a 15-game hitting streak (March 17-April 17)
• Team-leading 20 multiple-hit games, and 11 multiple-RBI games
• Her 15 home runs are three shy of program single-season record, and 48 RBIs are five shy of the record
• Hitting .522 (24-for-46) with runners in scoring position

Madison Evers-Lyles, So., 3B, First Team
• Named first team all-Big Sky
• Last year, she was named Big Sky Freshman of the Year, and second team all-league
• Has started all 43 games in which she's appeared
• Batting .333 with 11 doubles, 10 homers, 37 RBIs, and a .630 slugging percentage
• Now has 21 home runs in her first two seasons with the program - one every 12.2 at-bats
• Tied the school record with three home runs and seven RBIs in an 11-4 win over UC Davis
• Has seven multi-RBI games
• Has a pair of four-hit games (vs. UC Davis, vs. Montana)

Kennedie Bacon, Sr., RHP, Second Team
• A second team all-Big Sky selection for the second consecutive year
• Named Big Sky Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16
• Is 10-6 with a 3.24 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 99.1 innings
• Starter in a team-high 19 games while tossing nine complete games and three shutouts
• Limiting the opposition to a .274 batting average with just five homers in 99.1 innings
• Big part of a Hornet pitching staff that ranks 25th in the nation in team ERA (2.89)
• Threw shutouts against Harvard, San Jose State and Saint Mary's
• In her last appearance over the weekend, she limited Portland State to two hits in a 5-1 victory

Shannon Garcia, So., C, Second Team
• Recipient of second team all-Big Sky honors for the second consecutive season
• Has played in 43 games, including 41 starts (35 starts at catcher)
• Batting .306 with 17 runs, eight doubles, four home runs and 19 RBIs
• Has thrown out 10 opponents attempting to steal a base
• Has caught a pitching staff that is currently 25th in the nation in team ERA
• Has hit safely in each of her last six, and eight of the last nine games
• Has 10 multiple-hit games, and hit .341 in Big Sky play
• Went the first 20 games of her season without an error, and has gone the last 15 without a miscue

Alexa Ortiz, Jr., RHP, Second Team
• A second team all-Big Sky selection, after receiving honorable mention accolades a year ago
• Five-time Big Sky Pitcher of the Week, the most by a Hornet since 2023 (Marissa Bertuccio)
• Is 10-8 with a 2.85 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and 96 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched
• Has 20 appearances, 18 starts, nine complete games and two shutouts
• Holding the opposition to a .221 batting average
• Tossed a one-hit shutout of Saint Mary's, and a two-hit shutout of Portland State
• Struck out a career-high 11 batters in the shutout of Saint Mary's
• Has allowed just four home runs in 100.2 innings pitched

Saskia Raab, So., OF, Second Team
• A second team all-Big Sky selection in her first season with the Hornets
• One of three Hornets to start all 47 games
• Each of those starts have come in center field
• Hit in the Nos. 1, 3, 4 and 5 spots of the lineup (primarily at No. 3)
• Hitting .340 with 31 runs, 10 doubles, two homers, 19 RBIs and a .402 on-base percentage
• Team-best 12 stolen bases, and has been caught just twice
• Had a walkoff two-run double in a 5-4 win over South Dakota
• Hit a one-out grand slam in the ninth inning of an eventual 9-7 win over Nevada
• Reached base safely the first 25 games of the season

Madi Mendoza, Jr., SS, Honorable Mention
• One of three Hornets to start all 47 games
• Each of those starts came at shortstop
• Named Big Sky Player of the Week on April 13
• Hitting .345 (second on the team) with 31 runs, 13 doubles, six homers, 23 RBIs, a .563 slugging percentage and .413 on-base percentage
• Has seven bases in nine attempts
• Currently has a nine-game hitting streak
• Her 116 assist are 27th most in the nation, and 2.47 assists per game rank 26th
• Had a walkoff grand slam in the Hornets' 10-2 win over Portland State on Saturday