bio through 2026 season
AWARDS
* Mountain West Pitcher of the Week (March 30, 2026)
2026 SEASON - SOPHOMORE
Started seven of her 25 appearances, finishing 3-2 with a 4.40 ERA across 62 innings… Struck out 45 hitters while limiting opposing hitters to a .238 average, the fifth-lowest batting average against among qualified Mountain West pitchers and lowest on SDSU’s roster… Put together a 1.42 WHIP and 1.32 K:BB Ratio… Started the season opener against Minnesota, limiting the Golden Gophers to one run on one hit in three innings… Made her next start against North Dakota on Feb. 13, earning the win with four shutout, one-hit innings while striking out five, ultimately becoming part of the team’s first one-hitter since 2023… Struck out four in a start against Princeton on March 8, going three innings… Earned her first win in conference play with six innings of one-run softball, allowing just two hits and striking out four at New Mexico on March 29… Named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week the next day for allowing just two runs in 9.2 innings with five strikeouts and four hits allowed during the series against the Lobos… Allowed one run on two hits across 3.1 frames to earn her third and final win of the season in the first game of a doubleheader at San Jose State on April 11.
2025 SEASON - FRESHMAN
Started seven of her 15 appearances, finishing 3-1 with a 2.01 ERA across 38.1 innings… Struck out 23 hitters while limiting opposing hitters to a .212 average … Made her collegiate debut in the season opener against CSUN on February 6, allowing just a walk and a single while striking out one across two scoreless innings… Made her first career start against Southern the next day, becoming the first Aztec freshman since Danielle O’Toole in 2013 to toss a complete game shutout… Limited the Jaguars to four hits and one walk in six innings while striking out three… Continued her career-opening scoreless streak through the first 18.1 innings she threw before finally allowing a run against Notre Dame on February 28… Tallied a career-high six strikeouts and picked up her second win in five scoreless innings against UC Riverside on February 22… Earned her final win in a start against New Mexico on March 23, striking out three hitters and allowing just two hits, one walk and a run across three innings… Made her postseason debut with an inning against UCLA in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional on May 17, limiting the Bruins to one run.
CLUB BALL
Pitched for four seasons for the USA Athletics out of Signal Hill, California… Earned both Pitcher of the Year and Century Club Player of the Year in her sophomore and senior seasons.
HIGH SCHOOL
Lettered in three seasons at Millikan High in Long Beach, California… Helped the team to a second-place finish as a freshman.
PERSONAL
Ava M. Schaffel was born on December 11, 2005, in Long Beach, California… Daughter of Denelle and Mike Schaffel… Father, Mike, was a defensive back for the Cal State Fullerton football team… Plans on becoming an elementary school teacher after graduation… Lists her favorite athlete as Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper.
Freshman2025
Pitcher
5-11 / -