SPECIAL FEATURE (Oct. 15, 2024) – Two years ago, Caitlin Terrazas and the rest of the Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) softball team were tearing it up on the field with a record of 28-4 and, and on a 19-game winning streak. Then Terrazas suffered an injury that ended her second season. Still, she remained full-heartedly committed to the Saints as they went on to achieve remarkable success, winning the Red River Athletic Conference regular season, the postseason tournament, and the NAIA Opening Round, plus playing in their first NAIA World Series.

She began her teaching and coaching career last season but will put that aside to return to the team to play her last season.

Terrazas said, "Coming to OLLU in 2021 was one of the best decisions I have made in my life. Deciding to come back after teaching/coaching for a year was tough because a career change can be a scary thing. But OLLU is home, and I have been blessed to have been accepted into our wonderful Communication Sciences and Disorders program to become an SLP (speech-language pathologist). Dr. Abel Chávez (OLLU President), Coach Bruce Lenington, Dr. Christine Carmichael, and all of my professors have been more than willing to work with me as a student-athlete, and I am lucky to have their support."

During the Saints' historic 2024 season when they won the NAIA World Series Championship, Terrazas rarely missed a home game. She stood by the team through every success.

Head Coach Bruce Lenington commented, "No one embodies the OLLU softball culture better than Caitlin Terrazas.  Her leadership and preparation to compete are second to none.  Her last season was cut short due to injury, and I am happy that she gets another opportunity to write the final chapter of a great collegiate career."

Terrazas will begin her final season in the spring, and she comes with 88 games played, 83 as a starter; .330 batting average in 223 at-bats; 56 runs, 73 hits, 25 doubles, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, .641 slugging, 27 walks, .446 on-base and 15 stolen bases. She also holds the OLLU career record in hit-by pitches at 23. Her awards include CSC Academic All-District, NAIA Scholar-Athlete, two-time All-Conference, three-time Conference Player of the Week and two-time Conference Scholar-Athlete.

Terrazas' records include: all-time leader in hits-by-pitcher with 23 and fourth in career slugging percentage at .641; most games played in a season with 59, fifth best slugging percentage in a season with .768 and most hits-by-pitcher in a season with 19; plus most doubles in a game with three.

"I am looking forward to being able to compete again," Terrazas said. "I am also grateful for the opportunity to continue growing the culture of OLLU softball, which I know has taken a lot of dedication, sacrifice and commitment from many players before to make it what it is today. 

"I believe we have all the tools we need to be successful. Many of us have been in this program before, and we do have some new faces, but we all have one goal. We know what it is going to take to get where we want to be, which is back at the World Series in that final game. Our coaches know how to get us prepared for everything we will face along the way."

The Saints are playing a few fall games, including against West Texas College and Lamar State College on Oct. 19. The women are excited to have the opportunity to play at the University of Texas at Austin on Oct. 25. The Saints will first play Temple College at 2:30 p.m. and then the Longhorns at 5 p.m. They will conclude the fall season against another NCAA D1 school – the University of Texas at San Antonio. The game on Oct. 27 is dubbed the Strike Out Cancer Fundraiser Game at OLLU beginning at noon.

The spring season kicks off on Jan. 31 against Evangel University at home.