In college debut, Spanish Springs grad Hailey McLean sets program record for strikeouts

Hailey McLean's collegiate pitching debut was a record-setter.

The Spanish Springs High alum pitched a complete game against CSU Bakersfield, striking out 20 batters in a 3-2 ninth-inning win. That set the single-game program record in strikeouts as well as the stadium record at UCLA's Easton Stadium. Noelle Johnson held the previous Aggie record with 16 strikeouts against Omaha on Feb. 9, 2014 while UCLA's Anjelica Selden held the previous stadium record with 18 strikeouts in 10 innings against Fresno State on Feb. 19, 2006.

A two-way player, McLean started the first three games of her college career in right field before getting the start in Utah State's fourth game. She threw 167 pitches and struck out the side in the second, fourth and eighth innings. The game was scoreless until Bakersfield scored in the top of the fifth. Utah State evened the game in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings. Both teams scored a run in the eighth before Utah State won in walk-off fashion in the ninth on an RBI single from Ariel Fifita.

McLean allowed just three hits over nine innings with one of the two runs allowed being earned. She walked one and hit two batters while fanning those 20. McLean struck out at least two batters in all but the seventh and ninth innings. McLean also pitched Sunday in a 13-0 loss to Cal, allowing four runs on a hit and three walks over one-third of an inning. Her only out was recorded via strikeout. As a hitter, she went 1-of-8 during with an RBI during her opening week.

McLean was the Gatorade Nevada Softball Player of the Year as a junior in 2021 and NSN's Northern Nevada Female Athlete of the Year as a senior in 2022.