Ashley Archuleta takes a cut at a Lobo game. (Courtesy of JB GALLEGOS)

 

 

Former Cleveland High softball standout Ashley Archuleta, a 2021 graduate, has earned All-Mountain West First Team distinction, as announced by the conference on Wednesday.

As voted on by the conference coaches, the selection marks the second first-team award for Archuleta, the  first two-time first team all-conference player for the University of New Mexico since Brandi Heimburg (2014 and 2015).

In her second season with the Lobos, Archuleta hit .437 with a .676 slugging percentage and .481 on-base percentage in conference play, leading the Lobos in batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, hits (31), RBIs (18) and total bases (48). She had three doubles, four triples and two home runs, had a hit in 19 conference games and ended the season on a 10-game hitting streak. She also finished with a team-high six multiple RBI games.

The Rio Rancho native ranked tied for second in the MW in hits, tied for second in triples (four), fifth in batting average, sixth in slugging percentage and total bases, tied for 10th in on-base percentage and tied for 12th in RBIs. Defensively, the second baseman was sixth in the conference in assists with 47 and tied for second with six turned double plays.

UNM was one of five MW schools (Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State) to place multiple players on the 15-member first team. Archuleta’s UNM teammate, Rachael Hathoot also earned a spot on the MW postseason squad.