ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— University of New Mexico head softball coach Nicole Dickson has announced the addition of catcher Sydney Carithers to the program.
An incoming junior from Fort Worth, Texas, Carithers joins the Lobos from Stephen F. Austin, where she played for Dickson as a freshman. In her two seasons at SFA, Carithers played in 105 games with 102 starts.
“Sydney will be an impact player for us defensively and is a high-character individual who is a hard worker and comes from a great family,” noted the second-year head coach. “She has two years of experience at the college level and played with a high-level travel ball organization.
“She fits well with our current roster and understands our program expectations and culture.”
Playing in 54 games while starting in 52 during the 2022 season, she finished with a .245 batting average, .338 slugging percentage, .286 on-base percentage and registered 37 hits, six doubles, one triple, and two home runs to go with 16 RBI. She posted a hit in 28 games with two five-game hitting streaks, eight multi-hit games, and drove in a run in 13 games.
As a sophomore, Carithers played in 51 games with 50 starts, hitting .212 with a .293 on-base percentage and .297 slugging percentage behind 25 hits, four doubles, and two home runs and accounted for 13 RBI. She recorded a hit in 19 games with multiple hits in six games and at least one RBI in nine games that included a season-high four RBI game. Behind the plate, she threw out five runners for a combined career total of seven runners caught stealing.
During her high school career at Brewer High School, the new Lobo earned first-team all-district three times, was named the Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 and the Offensive Player of the Year three times while her high school won the 2021 6-5A bi-district and area championships.
“I chose UNM because of the University’s commitment to creating an environment that encompasses an all-around positive athletic experience,” commented Carithers. “The coaches always strive to make their athletes the best they can be.” Carithers plans to major in physical education at UNM and is the second Lobo to sign this offseason, joining pitcher Aalijah Alarcon.