ORLANDO – An author of many key moments down the stretch for the UCF softball team this spring, former graduate transfer RHP/DP Sona Halajian is going pro.
As announced by the team Monday evening, Halajian is the newest signee for WPF’s (Women’s Professional Fastpitch) newest squad, agreeing to terms to join the Texas Monarchs.
Halajian becomes the third Knights alum to sign with a professional organization this summer, joining Sarah Willis (AUX) and Jada Cody (Texas Smoke). She and Cody will both compete for teams within WPF as well.
The San Anselmo, California, native saw time as both a pitcher and a designated player in her lone season in Orlando, hitting .329/.391/.582 (26-for-79) at the plate and recording a 5.44 ERA with 15 strikeouts in 28.1 innings pitched in the circle.
Halajian had a penchant for coming through in key moments against the best in the nation this spring, recording an aggregate eight RBI in four games against then-No. 23 Oregon, then-No. 4 Oklahoma State, and then-No. 2 Oklahoma.
She drove in two of the Knights’ three runs against the Ducks during the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, hit a three-run homer off the Cowgirls’ Lexi Kilfoyl, and drove in three runs, highlighted by a two-run blast, between the Knights’ final two games against the Sooners.
Sona’s going pro!@sonahalajian is joining the @wprofastpitch’s newest team, the Texas Monarchs!
— UCF Softball (@UCF_Softball) June 3, 2024
Congratulations, Sona! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/zfJcpEdd3r
Halajian’s three-hit showing in UCF’s NCAA Tallahassee Regional opener against Auburn May 17 marked her fourth consecutive multi-hit game, and she ended the season representing one of the Black and Gold’s most consistent offensive threats.
Since she hit the first grand slam of her collegiate career against North Florida April 2, Halajian was the Knights’ leading hitter through the team’s final 23 games of the season, producing a .426/.449/.745 (20-for-47) line with six multi-hit games, six runs scored, three doubles, four home runs, 19 RBI and 35 total bases.
Halajian also produced a key game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning against BYU in the April 6 series finale, paving way for the Knights to record the first Big 12 Conference series sweep in program history.
She also made an impact for her squad in the circle, most notably combining with southpaw Ava Justman to throw the 23rd no-hitter in program history against the Jacksonville Dolphins April 10.
The Monarchs represent the newest team under the WPF umbrella, announced as an expansion organization by the league Saturday, June 1.
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