NFCA COMPLETE RELEASE

DAVIS, Calif. — UC Davis freshman pitcher Brooke Yanez is one of 25 first-year players named as candidates for the Schutt Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Freshman of the Year award, the organization announced on Thursday morning.

Yanez is one of two Big West Conference players on the list along with Long Beach State outfielder Naomi Hernandez and one of eight pitchers overall. The list will be trimmed to 10 semifinalists on May 10, with the top three finalists announced on May 23. The trophy will then be presented to the winner during a live ceremony at the Women's College World Series banquet on May 29.

The left-hander from Ventura, Calif., enters this weekend's league series against UC Riverside ranking first in the Big West in ERA (1.33), complete games (17), and strikeouts looking (44), while standing second in opposing batting average (.170) and overall strikeouts (152). Yanez also ranks among the top 10 in innings (4th - 132.0), victories (t4th - 12), fewest hits allowed (10th - 78), fewest runs allowed (t4th - 32), and fewest earned runs allowed (4th - 25).

Nationally, the animal science major ranks No. 26 in the nation in ERA, No. 22 in hits allowed per seven innings (4.14), No. 38 in strikeouts, and No. 49 in strikeouts per seven innings (8.1).

Yanez has finished with double digits in strikeouts six times this season, including a career-high 15 in a win over Utah State back on March 10. She has allowed one earned run or fewer in 14 of her 19 starts this season, including a shutout in back-to-back starts against Fresno State and Pacific on Feb. 16 and 18, respectively.

She has thrown a pair of one-hitters against the Bulldogs and nationally ranked Oklahoma State on Feb. 24, and gave up only two hits in back-to-back starts against Utah State and Valparaiso, the latter on March 11.

Yanez and the Aggies open their series against the Highlanders with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 21) beginning at 1 p.m. at La Rue Field, with a single game to close out the weekend on Sunday (April 22), also at 1 p.m.

Past Schutt Sports/NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Winners
2017 - Rachel Garcia, UCLA
2016 - Amanda Lorenz, Florida
2015 - Paige Parker, Oklahoma
2014 - Annie Aldrete, Tennessee & Kasey Cooper, Auburn

2018 NFCA Division I National Freshman of the Year Top 25
Hannah Adams, 2B, Florida
Jocelyn Alo, DP/OF, Oklahoma
Patricia Awald, 1B, Kennesaw State
Meghan Beaubien, P, Michigan
Payton Buresch, P, James Madison
Georgina Corrick, P, USF
Sophie Dandola, P, Hofstra
Mia Davidson, C, Mississippi State
Danielle Gibson, 1B, Arizona State
Mary Haff, P, Arkansas
Naomi Hernandez, OF, Long Beach State
Mary Iakopo, C/DP, Oregon
Janae Jefferson, 2B, Texas
Aaliyah Jordan, OF, UCLA
Rachel Lewis, 2B, Northwestern
Kelsey Oh, P, South Carolina
Briana Perez, SS, UCLA
Gabbie Plain, P, Washington
Katie Prebble, 1B, Gardner-Webb
Paige Rauch, 2B/P, Fordham
Alison Seng, 1B/DP, Boise State
Sydney Sherrill, 2B, Florida State
Kaylee Tow, OF, Alabama
Sadie Wise, OF, Saint Louis
Brooke Yanez, P, UC Davis

ABOUT UC DAVIS
Providing a small-town community feel while providing a world-class academic experience, UC Davis is home to more than 37,000 students and centrally located between San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and the Napa Valley. The No. 6-ranked public university in the nation according to the Wall Street Journal, and among the top 10 public universities nationwide according to U.S. News and World Report, UC Davis offers nearly 100 graduate programs and more than 100 academic majors across four colleges and six professional schools, ranking among the world and nation's best in numerous disciplines, including veterinary science, agriculture, and plant and animal programs.

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