Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. — The Northwest Conference Tournament qualifying Pacific Lutheran University softball team was well represented on the NWC's postseason awards list with six Lutes landing All-Conference recognition, including Bri Sarae earning NWC Rookie of the Year.

Batterymates Paige Wilson and Bri Sarae were First Team All-Conference selections while outfielders Kamalani Doctor and Zoe Smithson secured Second Team status. Emelia Maza and Brookelyn Gutierrez both tallied Honorable Mention All-NWC.

Paige Wilson earns First Team All-Conference as a pitcher for the first time in her career. The Carlsbad, California native had an amazing sophomore season, twirling three no-hitters in 2025, including two in league play. Wilson led the Lutes with a 3.01 earned run average, striking out 112 in 116 1/3 innings of work. Wilson had a 12-6 record inside the circle with 12 complete games and one save, limiting opposing hitters to just a .199 batting average.

Bri Sarae secures NWC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NWC as a catcher. The Pearl City, Hawaii native had an incredible debut season, catching four no-hitters on the year and leading the team at the plate with a .430 batting average. Sarae had 22 RBIs and 13 extra base hits, scoring 28 runs and stealing 12 bases. Sarae led the team in putouts with 171 and had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. 
 
PLU has now claimed four of the last seven NWC Rookie of the Year Awards. In addition to Sarae, Paola Garcia was the winner in 2023, Casey Wright won it in 2021, and Kennedy Robillard was the NWC Rookie of the Year back in 2018. 
 
Kamalani Doctor lands Second Team All-Conference for the first time in her career. The Kailua Kona, Hawaii native earns the nod as an outfielder after hitting .408 at the plate with 33 RBIs, 42 runs scored, and 21 extra base hits. That includes eight home runs this season while starting all 42 games in 2025.

Zoe Smithson nets Second Team All-League as an outfielder. The Port Angeles, Washington native hit .414 on the year with a team-best 50 RBIs and 107 total bases. Smithson had a team-leading 29 extra base hits, belting 17 doubles, eight home runs, and four triples while stealing 13 bases.

Emeila Maza and Brookelyn Gutierrez both earn Honorable Mention All-Conference as utility players. Maza, a Los Angeles, California native, had a .329 on-base percentage this spring and scored 10 runs in 28 starts. Gutierrez hit .313 at the plate, starting all but one game this season. Gutierrez had 27 RBIs and scored 19 runs with eight extra base knocks.

The Lutes wrapped up the season with a 27-15 overall record and a 17-11 mark in conference play, qualifying for the NWC Tournament for the fourth consecutive season. PLU was one of the top power hitting teams in the nation, ranking 15th in all of NCAA Division III in home runs (32) while sitting 30th nationally in fielding percentage (.970).