Rachael Hathoot Selected to All-Mountain West Preseason Team

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— A season after earning Mountain West All-Conference First Team, New Mexico shortstop Rachael Hathoot has been selected by the conference coaches to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team, as announced on Wednesday.

Hathoot was one of 12 position players and the only Lobo to earn the preseason distinction.

“Rachael is a top three player in the Mountain West Conference,” commented head softball coach Nicole Dickson. “She is talented, competitive and has a high game IQ. She’s been a leader and set the tone from day 1. Her mentality, work ethic and drive are consistent, and I believe her best softball is in front of her this season.”

Hathoot enters the season after hitting .414 with a .643 slugging percentage and a .468 on-base percentage in 22 MW games in 2023. Against conference opponents, Hathoot recorded 29 hits, which included five doubles, four triples and a home run for 45 total bases and accounted for 19 runs and 13 RBI.

The Albuquerque native led the Lobos in runs scored, was second in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits and total bases, tied for the team lead in triples and was third in runs batted in. Hathoot had nine multiple hit games with at least one hit in 18 conference games as well as seven MW games with at least one RBI and three games with multiple RBI.

Among the MW, Hathoot finished tied for second in triples, 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. In addition, Hathoot turned six double plays, tied for the second most among conference players, and was third in assists (54).

On the season, she started in all 50 games last season at shortstop and has started every game in the last three years (122). The redshirt senior finished with her best season as a Lobo with 59 hits, nine doubles, seven triples, 31 RBI, 91 total bases, 12 walks, 38 runs scored, a .396 batting average, .452 on-base percentage and a .611 slugging percentage.

Hathoot is one of six starters that return from last year, including veterans in Ashley Archuleta and Amber Linton, who each finished among the top of the MW in several categories.

Named All-MW First Team the last two seasons, Archuleta ended the season on a 10-game hitting streak and had 11 games with multiple hits in conference and 19 conference games with at least one hit. Among MW players, the Rio Rancho, New Mexico native finished tied for 2^nd in hits (31) and triples (four), 5^th in batting average (.437), 6^th in slugging percentage (.676) and total bases (48), tied for 10^th in on-base percentage (.481) and tied for 12^th in RBI (18), recording at least one RBI in 10 conference games with multiple RBI in six and two games with three RBI. Archuleta led UNM in batting average, hits, RBI, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and total bases in MW games. The junior is on the verge of her 100^th-career hit and start with 98 starts and 99 career hits.

Another Lobo on the verge of making history is Linton, who has improved her production in the circle the last two seasons.  The RHP’s 7.24 strikeouts per game in 2023 was the single-season program record, breaking her own record of 6.97 she set in 2022, and in addition, doubled the amount of complete games from her sophomore to junior season. In MW games, the Indiana native started 10 games with 15 appearances, going the distance in five games and registering one shutout. The Lobo recorded the third-most strikeouts (66) with the second-most strikeouts looking (17) and the fourth-most innings pitched (67.1) in conference games. Linton had two MW games registering double-digit strikeouts, including a career-high 14 strikeouts, and 11 strikeouts while not allowing a walk in a complete-game win. In conference games, Linton recorded multiple strikeouts in 11 games with five games with five or more strikeouts. She averaged 6.86 strikeouts per game against MW opponents with a +2.0 k/bb ratio. Linton enters her senior season needing 123 strikeouts to set the career record at UNM, with the Lobo recording over 150 strikeouts her first two seasons at UNM.

The Lobo roster underwent a revamp for 2024 with 15 newcomers on the roster that includes 12 freshmen. The 2024 campaign begins on Feb. 9 against Tennessee State in Louisiana with the first home game on Feb. 28 against Texas Tech.

All-Mountain West Preseason Team:
Taylor Caudill, Sr., RHP, Boise State
MyKenzie Hanna, Jr., OF, Boise State
Jordyn Hutchins, Sr., OF, Boise State
Hailey Smith, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Ashley York, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Taylor Gilmore, Sr., RHP, Fresno State
Keahilele Mattson, Sr., OF, Fresno State
Chelie Senini, Sr., OF, Nevada
Rachael Hathoot, Sr., INF, New Mexico
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Cali Decker, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Bella Espinoza, Jr., OF, San Diego State
Allie Light, Sr., RHP, San Diego State
Ariana “Nana” Martinez, Jr., INF, UNLV
Maddie Schmidt, Sr., SS/OF, UNLV

Preseason Player of the Year
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Allie Light, Sr., RHP, San Diego State

2024 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank Team (First-Place Votes) Points

1. San Diego State (8) 64
2. Boise State (1) 57
3. Colorado State 46
4. Fresno State 41
5. Nevada 37
6. UNLV 28
7. Utah State 19
8. New Mexico 17
9. San José State 15