Lobo Softball Bolsters Roster with Four Signees
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Lobo Softball 2025 roster continues to take shape as head coach Nicole Dickson and staff have signed four players for the upcoming season.
With an emphasis on pitching, the Lobos added three transfer pitchers in Lexi Atcitty, Nova Montes and Marina Tinari in addition to a versatile utility player in Georgia Heathcock.
“Our focus was adding elite arms and an offensive utility player this offseason,” noted Dickson. “I’m excited about this group of four; they are eager to get to work and are exactly what we needed to add with the talent we bring back and the 2024 class we have coming in.
“Pitching wise, we are bringing in three impact players. Nova has over 200-plus innings and comes from a winning program at Paris Junior College. Marina is a high-velo lefty with a competitive edge and is mentally tough, and we also expect her to contribute offensively as a hitter and outfielder. Lexi is an athletic lefty with the ability to mix speeds. She’s also a mature, servant-leader teammate and someone I expect to make an impact right away.
“Georgia’s athleticism and ability to play all positions fits our needs. She can play the outfield, infield and as a catcher and has power at the plate with a high game IQ as well.”
Lexi Atcitty | LHP | Lehi, Utah
Atcitty comes to UNM having spent two seasons at BYU, the most recent in 2022.
Prior to her time in Provo, Atcitty attended Skyridge High School, where she was a four-year member on the honor roll, earned academic all-state and was the recipient of the Chief Manuelito Scholarship.
A member of the Navajo tribe, she coached Native American girls on the Navajo reservation.
Georgia Heathcock | UTIL | Little Elm, Texas
Able to play in the outfield, at first or behind the plate, Heathcock joins the Lobos after spending the past two seasons at UC San Diego. She appeared in a combined 33 games with 10 starts over the span of her time as a Triton, hitting .209 with nine hits, two doubles and one RBI. In addition, Heathcock posted a .277 on-base percentage and a .256 slugging percentage.
In her freshman campaign, Heathcock played in 21 games at second and started six games. She finished with a .522 OPS behind six hits, one double, one RBI, two walks and a hit-by-pitch. During her sophomore season, she played in 12 games with four starts, finishing with a .553 OPS, three hits, two doubles and one walk.
A population health major, Heathcock was an Easton/NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete in 2022-23.
Prior to attending UCSD, she excelled at Little Elm High School, earning Star Local Media First Team All-Area Utility in 2022, Lobo Softball Team MVP in 2022, DFW Fastpitch All-Metroplex in 2021 and 2022, Little Elm High School Female Athlete of the Year and First Team All-District in 2019 and 2022.
On why UNM: I chose UNM for the competitive environment and the coaching staff’s approach to the game.
Nova Montes | RHP | Covina, California
Montes comes to New Mexico after playing at Paris Junior College the past two seasons, earning First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-Region following the 2023-24 season.
In Montes’ most recent season, they compiled a 2.23 ERA in 166.0 innings pitched, registering 142 strikeouts for an average of 5.99 per game, throwing 17 complete games in 29 starts and made 34 appearances. Further, Montes ranked fourth nationally for most wins in the NJCAA with 24 wins in 2023-24 and also added two saves.
Prior to attending PJC, Montes attended Charter Oak High School, earning Second Team All-League the 2022 season and was ranked 45th in the country by Extra Innings amongst the 2022 class. Montes also played for OC Batbusters and BSC Briggs Softball Club as well as the Bengals, becoming a PGF National Champion in the 14U Platinum Division with OC Batbusters Shockey in 2019 after pitching eight innings in the championship game.
On why UNM: From day one, I felt a connection with the coaching staff and the campus was beautiful.
Marina Tinari | LHP/ OF | Castle Rock, Colorado
Tinari appeared in 12 games with one start in her freshman season at Florida Gulf Coast, and of note, didn’t allow a run in a combined 5.1 innings amongst four consecutive appearances in the circle. She totaled 15.2 innings, striking out six, and twice threw 2.2 innings against Louisville and Florida State for season highs. In addition, Tinari recorded multiple strikeouts twice with two against Louisville and Middle Tennessee State.
She also has the ability to hit, and while she didn’t register an at-bat at FGCU, she pinch ran against Jacksonville which turned into a run. At Douglas County High School, she hit .553 with 52 hits, 45 RBI and a .600 on-base percentage and a .797 slugging percentage. She threw 103.1 innings and faced 409 batters with a 1.49 ERA and 166 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .181 batting average. Throughout her high school career, she earned First Team All-State and First Team All-Conference in 2022 and Second Team All-Conference in 2019 and 2021 as her team won the conference and regional championship before finishing as the 5A state runner-up in 2022.
On why UNM: I chose UNM because from the first phone call with Coach Hannabas and then with Coach Dickson, to my visit, I knew that this was the coaching staff that I wanted to learn from, play for, and compete with.
The four newest Lobos join a talented group of nine incoming freshmen that signed in November and 14 returners from last season.