LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Colorado Mesa University Softball player, Jessalyn Gallegos was named as a finalist for the DII Freshman of the Year Award this morning as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Gallegos is the first freshman to be recognized as a finalist for this award for Colorado Mesa since AnnMarie Torres was in 2017.

In total there were eight different freshmen selected to the finalist team with one hailing from each region. Gallegos represents the South Central Region made up of the RMAC and Lone Star Conferences. This serves as an equivalent to the region's freshman of the year award as she is the lone representative from 28 different institutions.

The winner of the award will be announced on Tuesday, May 20.

Gallegos, who was named as the RMAC's Freshman of the Year in 2025, finished her spring with an overall record of 19-4 in the circle while holding a 2.20 ERA. She totaled 175.1 innings pitched on the year while recording 163 strikeouts and limiting opponents to .242 against her. She was named as an All-RMAC Second Team honoree.

Finalists by Region