SOFTBALL’S IZMENA CABRERA SELECTED TO PLAY ON PUERTO RICAN NATIONAL TEAM 7/20/2009 SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Former Sacramento State left fielder Izmena Cabrera was selected to represent the Puerto Rican national team in the Pan American Softball Qualifier in Maracay, Venezuela, on July 31-Aug. 9. Cabrera, whose parents are both Puerto Rican, becomes the third Sacramento State softball player to be named to a national squad, joining Susie Bugliarello (Italy) and Gina Givogri (United States). Cabrera is currently playing for the first-place Chicago Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League, and will board a plane for Puerto Rico on Monday, July 27. She will then leave a few days later for Venezuela with the national team. Cabrera, who is batting .250 with a pair of game-winning hits for the Bandits, will return to Chicago after the qualifying tournament to complete the Bandits’ final regular season series against Rockford and the playoffs (Aug. 20-23). “I’m just riding the wave right now and enjoying every moment,” Cabrera said. “To play professionally and make a national team, I never thought I would make it this far with my softball career. I’m very excited and looking forward to wearing Puerto Rico on my chest.” A fifth-round selection of the Bandits in February’s National Pro Fastpitch League draft, Cabrera put together one of the best two-year careers (2008-09) in Sacramento State history after transferring from the College of Charleston. The Vacaville, Calif., native was a two-time first team all-Pacific Coast Softball Conference selection and a first team all-West Region choice in 2008. Despite playing just two years in the Green and Gold, Cabrera ranks among program career leaders in batting average (.371, T-1st), home runs (11, T-3rd), doubles (33, T-5th) and RBIs (81, 6th). This past season, she finished the year batting .366 with 30 runs, 19 doubles, three home runs, 28 RBIs and a .420 on-base percentage. Her 21-game hitting streak during the season not only set the school record, but tied for the longest streak by a Div. I player in 2009. Her 19 doubles and average of 0.39 doubles per game tied for the fourth best mark in nation, and were the best marks in Sacramento State single-season history. In 2008, Cabrera batted .375, and led the team in hits (63), doubles (14), RBIs (53), average with runners in scoring position (.435) and multiple-RBI games (13). The 53 RBIs shattered the previous program single-season record of 42 RBIs. Cabrera graduated in May from Sacramento State with a degree in psychology.