Senior Spotlight: Nikki Alexander and Halle Sullivan
3/31/2020 2:39:00 PM | Softball
Twice weekly we will highlight spring sport senior athletes on their careers at Saint Mary's.
MORAGA, Calif. — We head to the softball diamond for today's installment of Senior Spotlight and focus on two of the leaders on Saint Mary's team in Nikki Alexander and Halle Sullivan.
Alexander has started at second base for Saint Mary's ever since coming onto campus in 2017 while Sullivan was a key contributor off the bench before blossoming into a full-time starter in center field this season. Both Gaels had started all 26 games in their senior season before the remaining contests were canceled.
Understandably, the duo was hurt by the news. "Softball was the one thing that has been the constant in my life since I was 4 years old, it's really all I've ever known," explained Alexander. "I've worked so hard to achieve my dream of playing at the Division I level and to earn my place at SMC, so to have that swept from under you in such an unexpected manner really hurts."
Sullivan shared the same sentiment, "It has been really hard to imagine that I might not be able to play softball again. I have played for as long as I can remember, and the thought that I will never lose my voice from cheering in the dugout, make a diving play, or steal a base again is really hard to cope with."
Despite the hard news, both seniors agreed that their teammates were a big factor in helping them get through the initial pain and confusion. "It was very difficult when we all found out that the season was over, but being surrounded by all of my teammates and closest friends really made things easier because we were all able to lean on each other," said Alexander.
"You could see that each person wanted to play for the person to their left and right, and it showed," Sullivan said about her fellow Gaels. "Especially in the last few weekends, we made teams like Oregon and Washington recognize us as a great team. We competed and I think if we kept playing the way we were, we were on track to do something really special."
The Gaels' center fielder wasn't wrong. Last year, Saint Mary's won seven games in their non-conference schedule. This season, the team matched that number and would've had 13 more non-WCC contests to play to try and top that figure. In 51 games in 2019, the team scored 118 runs while in only 26 games this year, they totalled 98.
In particular, Sullivan was having the best season of her career this year with a .260 batting average and a team-high 11 extra base hits. She also was tied for first on the team with four stolen bases.
"This year's team was so much different than any other team I've been a part of since being at SMC," Alexander commented. "This team was made up of so many different individuals, but when we came together to play, we played as one. You can't teach a team to be cohesive so I think that the fact that cohesiveness came so natural to us was really special."
When the two seniors were asked what their favorite moment was during their Saint Mary's career, they both gave the same answer: beating BYU on Senior Day in 2017. In that game, the score was 0-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh as SMC ace Katie Moss shut down a potent Cougars team that was ranked No. 20 at the time. In the final inning, the Gaels managed to get a runner in scoring position on second, setting up the stage for Alexander to deliver a walk-off single to center and snap BYU's 22-game win streak.
"To hit the walk-off to win the game off of their senior ace pitcher was a feeling I will never forget," recalled Alexander. "There was so much energy and passion. I will never forget the excitement that was running through each of us," Sullivan added.
That moment produced one of the more iconic photos in program history, displayed below. Alexander is shown being swamped by her teammates while Sullivan is just to her left celebrating.
That year, Alexander batted .355 as a freshman and was third in the WCC in on-base percentage (.452). The infielder was named First Team All-WCC that season and chosen as Saint Mary's Female Newcomer of the Year.
Aside from athletics, Alexander and Sullivan were also terrific students and took great pride in their school work. The seniors believe their performances in the classroom were their greatest accomplishments while in college.
"My greatest accomplishment at Saint Mary's is succeeding at being a first generation college student," said Alexander. "Being able to juggle the long hours of softball and school work has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do, but being able to make the dean's list, being awarded the NFCA Academic All- American award, and to say that I will be graduating in May 2020 with a business degree feels so good."
"My greatest accomplishment at Saint Mary's was making the WCC All-Academic Team three years in a row," explained Sullivan.
Moving forward, the seniors are excited to start their new careers but will continue to hold a special place in their heart for softball and helping mentor other young players.
"In five years I see myself as a proud alumna, graduated with both my BS and MS in accounting," says Sullivan. "I look forward to being a licensed CPA working on the audit path. As for sports, it will always be a part of my life. I plan on coaching travel ball and helping young girls accomplish their dreams of playing Division I softball as well.
"In five years, I see myself focusing heavily on my career, hopefully in the corporate world. I know that sports will always be a huge part of my life because playing has made me the person I am today. Whether it is watching sports, teaching or mentoring younger players, or just getting out there to play catch when I'm missing the game, I will always have softball in my heart," added Alexander.
Come back to SMCGaels.com on Thursday to read the next Senior Spotlight feature!
MORAGA, Calif. — We head to the softball diamond for today's installment of Senior Spotlight and focus on two of the leaders on Saint Mary's team in Nikki Alexander and Halle Sullivan.
Alexander has started at second base for Saint Mary's ever since coming onto campus in 2017 while Sullivan was a key contributor off the bench before blossoming into a full-time starter in center field this season. Both Gaels had started all 26 games in their senior season before the remaining contests were canceled.
Understandably, the duo was hurt by the news. "Softball was the one thing that has been the constant in my life since I was 4 years old, it's really all I've ever known," explained Alexander. "I've worked so hard to achieve my dream of playing at the Division I level and to earn my place at SMC, so to have that swept from under you in such an unexpected manner really hurts."
Sullivan shared the same sentiment, "It has been really hard to imagine that I might not be able to play softball again. I have played for as long as I can remember, and the thought that I will never lose my voice from cheering in the dugout, make a diving play, or steal a base again is really hard to cope with."
Despite the hard news, both seniors agreed that their teammates were a big factor in helping them get through the initial pain and confusion. "It was very difficult when we all found out that the season was over, but being surrounded by all of my teammates and closest friends really made things easier because we were all able to lean on each other," said Alexander.
"You could see that each person wanted to play for the person to their left and right, and it showed," Sullivan said about her fellow Gaels. "Especially in the last few weekends, we made teams like Oregon and Washington recognize us as a great team. We competed and I think if we kept playing the way we were, we were on track to do something really special."
The Gaels' center fielder wasn't wrong. Last year, Saint Mary's won seven games in their non-conference schedule. This season, the team matched that number and would've had 13 more non-WCC contests to play to try and top that figure. In 51 games in 2019, the team scored 118 runs while in only 26 games this year, they totalled 98.
In particular, Sullivan was having the best season of her career this year with a .260 batting average and a team-high 11 extra base hits. She also was tied for first on the team with four stolen bases.
"This year's team was so much different than any other team I've been a part of since being at SMC," Alexander commented. "This team was made up of so many different individuals, but when we came together to play, we played as one. You can't teach a team to be cohesive so I think that the fact that cohesiveness came so natural to us was really special."
When the two seniors were asked what their favorite moment was during their Saint Mary's career, they both gave the same answer: beating BYU on Senior Day in 2017. In that game, the score was 0-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh as SMC ace Katie Moss shut down a potent Cougars team that was ranked No. 20 at the time. In the final inning, the Gaels managed to get a runner in scoring position on second, setting up the stage for Alexander to deliver a walk-off single to center and snap BYU's 22-game win streak.
"To hit the walk-off to win the game off of their senior ace pitcher was a feeling I will never forget," recalled Alexander. "There was so much energy and passion. I will never forget the excitement that was running through each of us," Sullivan added.
That moment produced one of the more iconic photos in program history, displayed below. Alexander is shown being swamped by her teammates while Sullivan is just to her left celebrating.
That year, Alexander batted .355 as a freshman and was third in the WCC in on-base percentage (.452). The infielder was named First Team All-WCC that season and chosen as Saint Mary's Female Newcomer of the Year.
Aside from athletics, Alexander and Sullivan were also terrific students and took great pride in their school work. The seniors believe their performances in the classroom were their greatest accomplishments while in college.
"My greatest accomplishment at Saint Mary's is succeeding at being a first generation college student," said Alexander. "Being able to juggle the long hours of softball and school work has been the most difficult thing I've ever had to do, but being able to make the dean's list, being awarded the NFCA Academic All- American award, and to say that I will be graduating in May 2020 with a business degree feels so good."
"My greatest accomplishment at Saint Mary's was making the WCC All-Academic Team three years in a row," explained Sullivan.
Moving forward, the seniors are excited to start their new careers but will continue to hold a special place in their heart for softball and helping mentor other young players.
"In five years I see myself as a proud alumna, graduated with both my BS and MS in accounting," says Sullivan. "I look forward to being a licensed CPA working on the audit path. As for sports, it will always be a part of my life. I plan on coaching travel ball and helping young girls accomplish their dreams of playing Division I softball as well.
"In five years, I see myself focusing heavily on my career, hopefully in the corporate world. I know that sports will always be a huge part of my life because playing has made me the person I am today. Whether it is watching sports, teaching or mentoring younger players, or just getting out there to play catch when I'm missing the game, I will always have softball in my heart," added Alexander.
Come back to SMCGaels.com on Thursday to read the next Senior Spotlight feature!
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ SoftballSB | Highlights at LMU, 5-10-25 G2
Saturday, May 10
SB | Highlights at LMU, 5-10-25 G1
Saturday, May 10
SB | Highlights at LMU, 5-9-25
Friday, May 09
SB | Highlights vs San Diego, 5-4-25
Sunday, May 04
