Lexi Orozco: USU’s five-tool star

As she unstrapped the Velcro on her batting gloves, playing a random song in the back of her head — as she does every at-bat — shortstop Lexi Orozco stepped up to the plate in an extra-innings thriller against the University of Maine. With bases loaded and one out trailing 7-6, Orozco ripped a double into the right-center gap, scoring two runs and walking the Aggies off in an 8-7 victory in the Aggie Classic.

Success at the plate is nothing new to Lexi Orozco. The senior out of San Marcos, California has never been shy to swing away. Orozco has hit 38 career home runs at Utah State and sits one away from tying the all-time record. Additionally, she holds the record for most home runs in a single season with 13, which she set as a first-year student.

“Those accolades are probably the last thing on my mind,” Orozco said. “When the coaches tell me I am close, I just say I am here to play softball.”

“She was a high-profile recruit coming in for us,” head coach Steve Johnson said about Orozco. “She’s taken what she had as raw talent and just made it that much better.”

GOODBYE 👋

No. 3⃣7⃣ is officially in the books!

🤘 @lexi_orozco #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/GHdodugY9J

— USU Softball (@USUSoftball) April 10, 2022

Orozco, who started playing softball when she was about four, was getting recruited to play in college at 13. It had a deciding factor on if she wanted to keep playing.

“Kids were getting recruited at the age of 12-14. I was exposed to a lifelong commitment once I knew softball was an access to pay for college and go to college,” Orozco said.

While being a multi-sport athlete in high school — playing volleyball in addition to softball — Orozco knew softball was her main focus.

“I always knew if I put my mind to something I could be good at it,” Orozco said. “Around the age of 11 is when I got into very competitive softball. I knew this was something I wanted to do for a long time.”

Despite this being her designated senior season, Orozco was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA due to the shortened coronavirus season, which could give her an opportunity to come back for one more year.

Orozco has put a lot of thought into her final year of eligibility.

“I hope to go play and get a master’s degree, and it will most likely not be at Utah State,” she said. “Hopefully, I will move back to San Diego after my career and find a life there. I plan on staying at home for the most part.”

Home. Something Orozco focused on when she was being recruited and something she wants to focus on after her softball career.

Orozco does not plan on playing professionally, despite having the tools to play after college. Playing at the next level is more difficult with the limited number of professional softball leagues.

Softball recruiters say there are five tools in softball to make a complete athlete. Orozco has all five. Orozco can field, run, throw, hit and hit with power. It makes her game almost an anomaly. Players with that talent aren’t often seen at the college level — and those who are, are typically focused on the professional league.

Johnson said Orozco had offers to play at the Power Five level in college. But, Orozco said her commitment to USU is one of her favorite stories to tell, because it showed how “immature” she was.

“I wanted to stay fairly close to home. Utah was just a drive away,” Orozco said. “I took a visit to the University of Utah and Utah State and as an immature 13-year-old kid, I chose USU between the two schools because I didn’t want to wear Under Armour and I wanted to wear Nike.”

Orozco’s mother, Angela, who was also a multi-sport athlete in high school, said she was focused on Orozco playing softball.

“She was a three-sport athlete at my alumni, San Marcos High, where she played volleyball and basketball in addition to softball.”

After a quick look at Orozco’s USU stats, her success at the plate is immediately apparent. In addition to her 38 career home runs, as of April 20, she has 135 RBIs — which is the record for a career — with batting career splits of .329/.423/.658, 75 walks and 92 runs. But her leadership is what sticks out to her coaches and teammates.

“She shows me that she has my back,” first-year student Claudia Medina said. “She will tell me where to be and will tell me if she is going over then I need to go over with her.”

Lexi Orozco trying to turn the double play. Photo by Paige Johnson. 

Medina, who regularly starts at third base for Utah State, plays next to Orozco in the infield.

When asked about the character of Orozco and what people should know about her, Medina said without hesitation she is “a strong woman. A strong independent woman. You can tell by the way she walks into the room. So much confidence.”

Johnson agreed with Medina and mentioned Orozco used her voice to set an example.

“She’s always been a vocal leader at shortstop which is a natural leadership position,” Johnson said. “Been a vocal leader for a couple years and someone the kids have listened to. She comes and talks to me as well when we need to look at something. She holds ownership to leaving a legacy.”

Being a leader involves being a smart player, which is what Johnson focused on when talking about Orozco.

“She is a crafty player,” Johnson said. “Where to position herself without giving away the pitch, reading the batter, a really high order of thinking playing the game.”

Claire Raley is another first-year student who has been impacted by the leadership of Orozco.

“She is very outspoken and knows how to take care of the team,” Raley said. “A verbal and example-driven leader.”

Raley plays behind Orozco in left field, and is impacted by her defense in the infield.

“She has set expectations for what to be doing on the field — but also off the field,” Raley said.

DOUBLE PLAY QUEENS 👑

🤘 @lexi_orozco & @kenzmacfarlane #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/UXbSunfJC7

— USU Softball (@USUSoftball) April 23, 2022

Orozco knows the role she has on the team and how she leads will not only affect the season but put an effect on the future of Utah State Softball.

“I like to put emphasis on action instead of telling them what to do,” Orozco said. “They have all done a good job of trusting the fact that when we step on that field I am no bigger of a person than they are just because I am a senior and they’re young players. I have full confidence in them to play the exact same way I play with the same intensity and determination to put forth for the team.”

Orozco and the Aggies are sitting at 24-18 this season with 14 games remaining and rank second in the Mountain West at 9-3 in conference play. They have their highest number of wins since 2017.

With eyes set to reach the NCAA Regional Tournament, Orozco is at the helm to close what can only be described as an exceptional Aggie career.