2015 All-PacWest Softball Teams

IRVINE, Calif. – Matching the most post-season honors the program has ever received, Academy of Art University Softball saw four of its Urban Knights selected to the 2015 All-PacWest Softball Team in a Wednesday announcement by the conference office. Senior outfielder Haily MacDonald was named to the First Team, freshman utility Samantha Klune to the Second Team, while both freshman Brenna Mitchell and graduate student utility Nirana Singh earned Third Team honors.
 
"It is an honor to have four of our athletes recognized in by conference," said head coach Sonja Garnett. "It is a big accomplishment for the program and all four of these women have contributed greatly this year."

 
This year, the PacWest coaches or designated representatives from each school selected a total of 37 student-athletes for All-Conference accolades. The squad consisted of a First Team, Second Team, Third Team, as well as Player of the Year, Pitcher of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Defender of the Year, and Freshman of the Year.

Haily MacDonald, a fixture in centerfield and atop the ART U batting order, completed her Urban Knight career in impressive fashion by breaking multiple records. She became the program's new career leader in triples (9) and stolen bases (64) while also setting new single-season marks in steals (38) and runs scored (50). The fifth toughest hitter to strike out in the country, MacDonald finished the season ranked second in the PacWest in stolen bases (14th in NCAA Division II), third in runs scored, and fourth in batting average (.428).

"Haily served in a crucial role for us as a leadoff hitter and leader," said Garnett. "What she accomplished statistically was a direct reflection of her tenacity, hard work, and passion."

This season, MacDonald opened the year with a 10-game hit streak, added hits in nine straight shortly thereafter, then unleashed a 12-game hit streak to start Cal State Stanislaus' Tournament of Champions. She would go on to be named All-Tournament Team and PacWest Co-Player of the Week that week after setting the program's single-game record with five steals against Simon Fraser on Mar. 28 and blasting her first career grand slam in a Mar. 29 victory over Chaminade. MacDonald also led the team with 21 multi-hit games and finished her career on a 23-game reached base streak. Additionally, she reached base in 47 of 49 games played this season.

Contributing in the outfield, at shortstop, and in the heart of the batting order this season, Samantha Klune demonstrated a keen versatility despite 2015 being her first year of collegiate softball. The Long Beach native hit .318 with 12 doubles (the most in the PacWest by a freshman) and four home runs. She also drove in 22 and scored 21 runs for the Urban Knights while starting all 49 of 49 games in which she played. 

"Sam had a great freshman year," said Garnett. "Her ability to play outfield and shortstop for us while remaining consistent at the plate was impressive. I am proud of how she has grown this year and excited her career is just beginning."

Klune homered in just her fourth collegiate at-bat to help ART U earn its first win then went on to become the fastest Urban Knight to hit two home runs after powering one over the fence just six days later to top SF State on Feb. 11. One of the team's most consistent hitters, Klune never saw her batting average go below .277 and it remained above .300 for the majority of the year as she finished with a trio of three-hit games. The Los Alamitos High School product came through in the clutch on more than one occasion, driving in what would be the game-winning run against Simon Fraser and SF State once more.


The first 20-game winner in Academy of Art University's seven-year history, Brenna Mitchell (20-12) had a freshman year for the ages in 2015. She wrapped up the season ranking first in the PacWest in innings pitched (205.2), strikeouts (150), complete games (21), while joining a three-way tie for second in victories (fourth in the country among freshmen), finishing sixth in shutouts (4), and remaining top-10 in ERA (3.20). In her debut season, she set ART U single-season records in both innings pitched and complete games.
Mitchell's first collegiate shutout came on Mar. 13 when she blanked Notre Dame de Namur with eight strikeouts then she extended her scoreless innings streak to a full 15 versus Dominican and was named PacWest Newcomer of the Week on Mar. 16. She later was named PacWest Pitcher of the Week after a season-high 14 strikeouts highlighted a stretch where she threw 18.2 scoreless innings with a pair of shutouts. Mitchell repeated the Newcomer award at the season's end, shutting out NDNU once again with seven strikeouts to earn her 20th win.

Singh, who transferred from Academy of Art from Savannah College of Art & Design, made an instant impact for the Urban Knights, hitting .315, homering five times, and driving in 25. She split time as ART U's every day catcher or designated player, starting in 53 of the team's 54 games this season. Singh, who ranked third on the squad in slugging percentage (.486) was also one of six Knights to hit double digits in doubles (10).
 
One of Singh's hottest stretches came in February and early March as she drove in 16 runs over a 12-game span from Feb. 20 – Mar. 9. After hitting .546 with her first two home runs in an Academy of Art uniform to guide the Knights past Azusa Pacific in three of four on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, Singh was named PacWest Player of the Week. She later hit three-run homers in back-to-back games against Holy Names and nationally-ranked Humboldt State, finishing the season with seven multi-RBI performances.

This is the second All-PacWest honor for MacDonald who was named to the All-PacWest Third Team in 2013. It is the first honor for Klune, Mitchell, and Singh.