May 19, 2016
San Jose, Calif. - San José State softball players Brittany Abacherli, Madison Aurin and Jessie Hufstetler have been named members of the 2016 National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division I All-Pacific Region teams.
Abacherli was named to the region's second-team, while Aurin and Hufstetler earned third-team distinction. They are three of 385 players from 157 different schools to be honored.
The awards honor softball student-athletes from 10 regions with first, second and third team selections for each region. The teams were voted on by NFCA member coaches from each respective region, and all the honorees now become eligible for selection to one of three 2016 NFCA Division I All-American teams.
Abacherli, a sophomore out of Corona, Calif., had a breakout season in 2016. She was the team's everyday centerfielder and leadoff hitter after making only three starts last year. She batted .351 and led the team with 12 home runs, 56 runs and 27 walks. She was second in the squad in RBI (49), doubles (13), triples (2) and slugging percentage (.661) and was a perfect 15-for-15 in stolen bases.
Nationally she ranked 19th in runs per game, 80th in RBIs per game, 108th in home runs per game and 131st in slugging percentage. This is Abacherli's first NFCA All-Region selection.
Aurin, a freshman who took over the everyday first baseman's role in mid-season, batted .344 and blasted 10 homers, nine in conference play. In 33 starts and 44 total appearances, she had 42 hits and scored 25 times. A product of Bakersfield, Calif., Aurin drove in 41 runs, had a slugging percentage of .648 and finished in the top-five of virtually every SJSU offensive category.
On a national level, she was 15th in sacrifice flies, 104th in RBIs per game, 121st in homers per game and 159th in slugging percentage. This is Aurin's first NFCA All-Region selection.
Hufstetler, a senior out of Atascadero, Calif., completed her Spartan career as the greatest hitter the program has ever produced and a three-time NFCA All-Pacific Region honoree.
This season she batted .369 with 55 hits, which included a team-leading 16 doubles, five triples and 51 RBIs. Hufstetler scored 52 runs, was hit by a pitch a record 16 times and was successful on her lone stolen base attempt.
Nationally, Hufstetler was 15th in triples, 21st in triples per game, 34th in runs per game, 35th in slugging percentage, 41st in doubles, 51st in RBIs per game, 114th in sacrifice flies, 140th in home runs, 141st in on-base percentage, and 24th in being hit by pitches.
The three Spartans selected for recognition are the second most for the team following a season. In 1989 the program had four athletes honored.