Azusa Pacific University Athletics

THIS YEAR: Sophomore righthander Narissa Garcia is the lone returning pitcher from last year's pitching staff ... Has a competitive demeanor and confidence in her pitches ... Should take on an increased innings load as she helps lead a young team ... May also get opportunities to impact games offensively as a hitter.

2013 (freshman): Made 19 pitching appearances as a true freshman, starting six times on a staff which included three four-year seniors ... Posted a 5-6 record with two saves and a 3.65 ERA ... Struck out 38 and walked 20 in 61.1 innings of work ... Fired two complete-games and contributed to two combined shutouts ... Was one-for-10 hitting and reached base two other times (walked and hit by pitch) ... Gave up four home runs on the year, but only one over her final 14 outings spanning 47 innings ... Threw a complete-game two-hitter with one strikeout and one walk in a 2-1 loss to Holy Names ... Had eight scoreless appearances, including a start lasting 5.1 scoreless innings in a 2-0 shutout win over Vanguard ... Collected a season-high six strikeouts in a start lasting 4.2 innings against Notre Dame de Namur.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played four seasons of varsity softball for head coach Brandon Ford at Redlands (Calif.) High School ... Was a four-time All-Citrus Belt League recipient, earning third team honors her freshman year before collecting first team recognition her final three years ... Named Citrus Belt League MVP her senior year after winning 17 games with a 1.20 ERA to go with six shutouts and 201 strikeouts ... Also earned all-county and all-area first team honors as a senior ... Led Redlands to four consecutive league titles with a 54-4 four-year Citrus Belt League record, making CIF Division II semifinals appearances her first two years and CIF Division I playoff appearances her junior and senior seasons ... Posted a four-year record of 45-15 with career totals of 17 shutouts and 469 strikeouts ... Went 11-3 with a 1.70 ERA as a junior in 2011 and was 15-3 with a 0.75 ERA and 168 strikeouts as a 2010 sophomore.

PERSONAL: Born March 23, 1994 in Riverside, Calif., to Frank (occupation management) and Nancy (fiscal clerk) Garcia ... Is the youngest of four children ... Has one brother (Frankie) and two sisters (Nannette and Neesha) ... Majoring in liberal studies and would like to be a special education teacher ... Enjoys spending time with her family.