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Palacios, Meoño and Cid

Bruins Add Transfers Palacios, Meoño and Cid

August 01, 2022 | Softball


LOS ANGELES – The Shelly Carlin UCLA Head Softball Coach Kelly Inouye-Perez announced the transfer additions of catcher Sharlize Palacios and outfielder Janelle Meoño from Arizona and infielder Rachel Cid from Oregon on Monday.
 
Palacios, a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team and All-Defensive Team selection, started 56 games behind the dish and hit for a .326 batting average for the Wildcats in their run to the Women's College World Series in 2022. Palacios knocked in a team-high 64 RBI in the heart of Arizona's lineup, ranking second in the Pac-12, while blasting 20 home runs which was good for fourth in the conference.
 
"Sharlize is one of the best catchers in the college game and is catching for Team USA this summer," Inouye-Perez said. "She brings strong leadership skills, swings a powerful bat and has 2 years of Women's College World Series experience. She would impact our lineup immediately with our pitchers and at the plate."
Palacios is also a two-time NFCA All-West Region Second Team honoree.
 
The Chula Vista, Calif., native racked up 13 multi-hit and 19 multi-RBI performances and came up clutch with a game-winning solo home run at Missouri on May 28 to help push the Wildcats to a Super Regional appearance.
 
In 2021, Palacios was named to the NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year Top 30 List after powering 18 home runs and 57 RBI while hitting at a .348 clip over 55 games.
 
Meoño was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and selected to the All-Pac-12 and NFCA All-West Region First Teams in 2021 after establishing Arizona's freshman season batting average record with a .439 clip. With the addition of Meoño, the Bruins will now have three former Pac-12 Batting Champions on the roster, including Aaliyah Jordan (2018) and Kelli Godin (2019). Meoño was also honored as a NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year Top 15 Finalist later that season.
 
"Janelle has proven to be a very athletic and skilled slapper," Inouye-Perez said. "She has great range in the outfield and would be a great addition to our team. She also has two years of Women's College World Series experience."
 
Last season, Meoño appeared in 36 games and made 34 starts in center field while missing 25 contests due to a lower leg injury. Her 2022 campaign was highlighted by a home run robbery against Mississippi State at the Starkville Super Regional on May 27. Meoño finished the season with a .291 batting average and .362 on-base percentage.
Hailing from Hacienda Heights, Calif., Meoño was listed as the No. 35 national recruit by Extra Inning Softball and named the San Gabriel Valley Player of the Year her senior season in 2019 thanks to a .588 batting average, 12 RBI, 29 runs and 15 stolen bases.
 
Palacios and Meoño are the second and third student-athletes to play for both UCLA and Arizona since Kellie Fox who donned a Bruin uniform in 2011-12 and Wildcat uniform in 2014-15.
 
Rachel Cid appeared at third base in all 39 starts for the Ducks in 2022 and hit for a .252 clip with 13 RBI and four home runs.
 
"Rachel is a solid infielder with a powerful swing," Inouye-Perez said. "Rachel brings valuable experience as a senior, and I believe she add a competitive edge to our program. She will also help add depth to our lineup that we will need on our road back to Oklahoma City."
 
Lifetime, Cid has compiled a .287 batting average and two 30-plus RBI seasons over her four years in Eugene, Ore. Cid has started at third base in 169 of her 172 career starts while making three at shortstop.
 
The Tracy, Calif., native was an NFCA All-Pacific Region First Team selection in 2021 after hitting for a .288 batting average and logging 11 doubles. Cid was a Pac-12 All-Freshman Team selection in 2019.