Open Announce

Archuleta and Hathoot Earn All-MW First Team Honors

by Allison Weiss

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— New Mexico’s Ashley Archuleta and Rachael Hathoot have earned All-Mountain West First Team distinction as announced by the conference on Wednesday.

As voted on by the conference coaches, the selections mark the second first team award for Archuleta and the first career first team award for Hathoot. Archuleta is the first two-time first team all-conference player for UNM since Brandi Heimburg (2014 and 2015).

Both Hathoot and Archuleta were integral pieces of the Lobo lineup, leading not only the team but were among the best in the conference in several statistical categories.

In her second season at UNM, Archuleta hit .437 with a .676 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage in conference play, leading the Lobos in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits (31), RBI (18) and total bases (48). Of her 31 hits, Archuleta recorded three doubles, four triples and two home runs. Additionally, she registered a hit in 19 conference games with a team-high 11 multiple hit games, and ended the season on a 10-game hitting streak. She also finished with a team-high six multiple RBI games.

The Rio Rancho native ranked tied for second in the MW in hits, tied for second in triples (four, tied with Hathoot), fifth in batting average, sixth in slugging percentage and total bases, tied for 10th in on-base percentage and tied for 12th in RBI. Defensively, the second baseman was sixth in the conference in assists with 47 and tied for second with six turned double plays.

After missing last season due to injury, Hathoot hit .414 with a .643 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage. The Lobo shortstop tallied 29 hits, which included five doubles, four triples and a home run, finishing with 45 total bases and 13 RBI against conference opponents. She led the team in runs scored (19), was second in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits and total bases, tied with Archuleta for the team lead in triples and was third in runs batted in. Hathoot had nine multiple hit games, the second most on the team, with at least one hit in 18 conference games.

Among the MW, the Albuquerque native was tied for second in triples, was fifth in hits, sixth in batting average, ninth in total bases, 11th in slugging percentage, 13th in on-base percentage and tied for 13th in runs scored, and in the field, turned a conference-high seven double plays and was third in assists (54).

UNM was one of five MW schools (Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State) to place multiple players on the 15-member first team.

With the selection of Hathoot and Archuleta, it is the third time that New Mexico has had two earn spots on the first team since 2014.