COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior Jacqueline Berkowitz and senior Alyssa Gutierrez headlined a group of 12 student-athletes from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs softball team that were honored on the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) All-Academic Teams on Wednesday afternoon as both student-athletes accrued RMAC All-Academic First Team accolades.
 
Junior Hanna Espinoza of Colorado Christian University was selected as the RMAC Softball Academic Player of the Year.
 
The RMAC All-Academic First Team and Academic Player of the Year awards were voted on by the conference's sports information directors.
 
To be eligible for consideration on the RMAC All-Academic First Team, a student-athlete must have been an active student at the institution for at least two consecutive semesters or three consecutive quarters and carry a cumulative 3.50 grade point average (GPA). All student-athletes that met those requirements but were not selected for the First Team, or have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30, automatically qualified for the Honor Roll.
 
Berkowitz earned RMAC All-Academic First Team accolades for the second consecutive year after excelling in the classroom and on the diamond throughout the 2025-26 academic year. A third-year business major, Berkowitz put together another solid season for the UCCS softball program as she appeared in 47 games and made 38 starts in the outfield, posting a .321 batting average with four doubles, 18 RBIs, 25 runs scored, and nine stolen bases. Across 122 plate appearances, the Scottsdale, Ariz. native recorded a career-best .353 on-base percentage while recording 34 hits and drawing six walks. In addition, Berkowitz proved to be a steady defender in the outfield for the Mountain Lions as she committed just two errors in 57 total chances for a .965 fielding percentage.
 
A first-time member of the RMAC All-Academic First Team, Gutierrez picked up the accolade after turning in a breakout season on the diamond alongside her exceptional efforts inside the classroom. In addition to earning her Bachelor of Arts in Inclusive Elementary Education in the fall and starting her Master of Arts in Special Education this spring, Gutierrez developed into one of the Mountain Lions' key offensive players as she appeared in 54 games and made 45 starts in the outfield while leading the team in triples (6) and ranking second on the squad in batting average (.433), hits (68), runs (50), on-base percentage (.465), and stolen bases (32). An All-RMAC Second Team and RMAC Gold Glove honoree, Gutierrez was also flawless on the defensive side of the ball as she posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage with no errors in 70 total chances while recording 69 putouts and one outfield assist.
 
In addition to the First Team honors for Berkowitz and Gutierrez, the Mountain Lions had 10 student-athletes named to the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll.
 
2026 RMAC SOFTBALL ALL-ACADEMIC HONOR ROLL
Brooke Bornitz (So. – Monument, Colo.): Mechanical Engineering
Laynee Case (Jr. – Loveland, Colo.): Biology
Brynna Frey (Sr. – Evergreen, Colo.): Nursing
Jennavieve Goldsworth (Jr. – Roseville, Calif.): Exercise Science
Hannah Hunt (So. – Albuquerque, N.M.): Human Physiology & Nutrition
Autumn Kunze (Sr. – Chandler, Ariz.): Business
Gianna Pancost (Jr. – Tucson, Ariz.): Business
Halley Redd (So. – Henderson, Nev.): Criminal Justice
Mackenzie Scott (R-So. – Salem, Ore.): Health Care Science
Katie Steinmetz (Sr. – Chula Vista, Calif.): Biology
 
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