IRVINE, Calif. – In her one season as an outfielder with Concordia University Irvine softball,
Kayla Rodgers definitely left her mark.
The 2025 PacWest Newcomer of the Year was voted First Team All-Region by both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and the Division II Collegiate Commissioners Association (D2CCA).
Rodgers led CUI in all these categories: batting average (.399), OPS (1.157), hits (69), homers (9), RBI (40), triples (5), total bases (120) and steals (20 for 22). A force from the moment she stepped in to the batter's box as a graduate student transfer from Grand Canyon University, Rodgers also collected at least two or more hits in 23 games and had multiple RBI 11 times.
Defensively, the Chino Hills, Calif. native started every game & covered tons of ground in left field, compiling more than 90 putouts to go with only two errors. She used her arm to rack up five assists too, as opponents were hesitant at times to test the CUI outfield arms, which included sophomore lead-off hitter and former PacWest Freshman of the Year
Jessica Im.
Earlier this season, Rodgers was one of 50 softball student-athletes nationally named to the NFCA DII Player of the Year Watch List. She wound up with a 15-game hitting streak through the final day of the team's playoff push.
The perennially-ranked Golden Eagles made the NCAA DII Regional tournament for the seventh straight time, and Rodgers helped them knock out Sonoma State before ultimately they were eliminated by regional host Cal State East Bay.
The Golden Eagles claimed the automatic bid in to the west regional bracket after emerging as
PacWest Conference Tournament champs for the third year in a row.
CLICK HERE to watch CUI postgame interview after Repeating as PacWest Tourney Champs
CLICK HERE for a look back at the full CUI softball schedule
