NCAA-Most Three Wildcats Named Finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year

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(TUCSON, AZ)  Three Wildcats, junior shortstop Jessie Harper, senior pitcher Taylor McQuillin and junior catcher Dejah Mulipola, are three of the 26 finalists for USA Softball Player of the Year, the association announced on Wednesday.

The Wildcats’ three nominations are the most in the country.

Harper and Mulipola, who are 1-2 in the Pac-12 with 21 and 20 home runs, respectively, rank second and third in the NCAA in home runs per game (0.47 and 0.44, respectively) and are one of only two pair of teammates to have hit 20 homers this season. McQuillin is the Pac-12 leader in shutouts, tied for fourth nationally with 10 shutouts in her 17 wins this season.

All three Wildcats were on the preseason USA Softball Top 50 Watch List. McQuillin is making her second appearance as a midseason finalist for the award after she was one of 34 finalists in 2017. Mulipola and Harper are first-time finalists for the award.

JESSIE HARPER: JR.; SS; STEVENSON RANCH, CA

Leads the Pac-12 and is third nationally with a career-high 21 home runs, two behind the NCAA leader

Her 21 home runs this season give her 58 for her career, already 10th most in Arizona history with a full season of eligibility remaining

Leads the Pac-12 and is tied for eighth in the NCAA with 55 RBI, one off her career high

Is slugging .888, second highest in the Pac-12

Second on the team with a .371 batting average after hitting .333 as a freshman and .340 as a sophomore

TAYLOR McQUILLIN: SR.; P; MISSION VIEJO, CA

Leads the Pac-12 with 10 shutouts in her 17 victories after leading the NCAA in shutouts last season

Is 17-5 with a career-low 1.23 ERA in 136.1 innings pitched

Ranks second in the Pac-12 in ERA (1.23), third in opponent batting average (.154) and fifth in strikeouts (164)

Has six victories (including four shutouts) vs. ranked opponents this season

Sits in the UA career top-10 in wins (9th – 73), strikeouts (7th – 747) and innings pitched (10th – 626.2)

DEJAH MULIPOLA: JR.; C; GARDEN GROVE, CA

Leads the Pac-12 in both slugging percentage (.916) and on-base percentage (.500)

Ranks second in the league with a career-most 20 home runs

Has drawn 32 walks, most in the Pac-12

Nine of Mulipola’s 20 home runs have come in Pac-12 play, second most in the conference

Currently has or tied career-highs in batting average (.353), home runs (20), RBI (49) and walks (32).

Portions courtesy of Arizona Communication Services