2023 All-PacWest Teams

IRVINE, Calif. – After both turned in impressive seasons hitting over .335 with more than 20 runs batted in and 20 runs scored apiece, Academy of Art softball's tandem of junior utility Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki and freshman infielder Audrey Allen each earned places on the All-PacWest Third Team in Tuesday's announcement of Pacific West Conference honors.

"Congrats to Audrey and Cailee for being recognized with their All-PacWest selections," said Head Coach Nikki Gentile. "Their contributions to our squad were huge this year and it's great that other coaches around the conference also acknowledged their success."

Grayhorse-Pupecki broke out in a big way in 2023, showing off her speed, productivity, and ability to hit for extra bases. She broke the program's single-season and career triples record on Apr. 28 versus Dominican, notching her sixth of the year and 10th in her three-career to better marks that had lasted since 2012 and 2015 respectively. To end the regular season, the Los Angeles native ranked second in the PacWest (21st in NCAA Division II) in triples (6), 10th in doubles (10) as well as home runs (3), 12th in batting average (.338), and was top 20 in both runs batted in (22) and runs scored (22).

Once the conference's Player of the Week (May 1), Grayhorse-Pupecki hit her first triple of the season just eight games in and proceeded to catch fire over the final week of March, hitting safely in nine of 10 games with nine runs batted in during that stretch. Some of her best softball awaited in April, however, as she recorded eight multi-hit games in the month alone. The final 13 contests of the year saw the Fashion Design major hit .439 (18-for-14) with five runs batted in, 12 runs scored, and 10 extra-base hits including the aforementioned triples record (two in the final span) and three home runs which all came in the final doubleheader of the season on Apr. 29 at Holy Names. Grayhorse-Pupecki became the second Urban Knight to date to homer twice in the same game on that day ART U swept HNU.

"When Cailee started here in Fall 2020, she was a pure short-game slapper relying on her speed," said Gentile. "What I noticed was her speed, strength, and explosiveness. She's worked tirelessly at perfecting her swing and now she is reaping the rewards - hitting for power, stretching singles to doubles, and doubles to triples, etc. She made catches this year that you couldn't even dream of. She takes away extra-base hits effortlessly. She not only leaves her heart out on the field every game but every practice, and no one is more deserving of being recognized for their hard work." 

One of four Urban Knights to play in all 51 games, Allen ended her freshman year as one of the team's most reliable hitters, leading ART U in batting average while ranking second in runs batted in and doubles. The native of Gig Harbor, Wash. ended with a .338 batting average (ninth in PacWest and second among freshmen), 11 doubles (eighth in PacWest) as well as 21 runs batted in and 21 runs scored (both 22nd in PacWest).

Allen's first month of the season was highlighted by her PacWest Player of the Week selection on Feb. 21 after she logged back-to-back three-hit games versus Menlo on Feb 17, finishing 6-for-7 with five runs batted in, three runs scored, and two doubles in the doubleheader. After driving in seven over a seven-game hit streak in late March, the Interior Architecture & Design major then swung for multiple hits in seven games in April. Allen went out strong, doubling and hitting in at least one of her teammates in each of the team's last four games while hitting .667 (10-for-15).

"We knew Audrey would be an immediate impact player during the recruiting process and finishing the season as our team's batting average leader as a freshman is proof," Gentile said. "She stepped up for us in a lot of ways, playing multiple positions around the diamond, and coming up clutch offensively in big time moments. We are excited for her future here at ART U - more to come."

These are the first All-PacWest Team honors for Grayhorse-Pupecki and Allen in their respective careers.