SEASIDE, Calif. — Senior third baseman Julia Garcia (Oxnard HS/Ventura College) rode her best week of the season to her first CCAA Player of the Week Award for 2018. It is the third time the reigning CCAA Player of the year has been so honored.

Garcia went 5–for–9 (.556) with two doubles and two home runs in CSUMB's 3–game sweep of San Francisco State. She added a pair of walks to finish with her OPS at a healthy 2.076.

The first player in CCAA softball history to win the triple crown—leading the league in batting average (.451), home runs (15) and RBI (62) in 2017—Garcia is starting to round into form again in 2018. After missing eight games, she is now hitting .375 with three homers and 14 RBI in 12 appearances this season.

Led by Garcia's hot bat, the Otters head to Chico this week for an important 4–game set against the CCAA leading Wildcats. Doubleheaders are scheduled for Friday (noon) and Saturday (11 a.m.). CSUMB is scheduled to play at home again until Cal State San Bernardino visits the Otter Sports Complex on Mar. 30–31.