Arizona sophomore shortstop Shelby Pendley has decided to leave the softball team, according to a report by the Arizona Daily Star.

Pendley suprisingly told the Star on Friday that she just wanted “something different.”

The Wildcats will be hard pressed to replace her bat in the lineup. Last year, as a freshman, Pendley was Arizona’s only all-Pac-12 first team selection, leading the team with 19 home runs, two shy of the UA freshman record set by senior third baseman Brigette Del Ponte in 2010.

Pendley started all 57 games at shortstop. She was one of just three Wildcats to start every game.

The Rio Rancho, N.M. native was No. 13 in the country last year in home runs and 30th in RBIs, with 55.

Pendley led the team in slugging (.703) and home runs and was second in batting average (.331), total bases (121) and runs (39).
The Wildcats have options to replace Pendley on defense though. Del Ponte could move to shortstop or freshman Lauren Young could play there.

Young played shortstop, third base and first base during the fall exhibition season. Also during fall ball, fellow freshman Courtney Rodriguez played second base and shortstop; and freshman Mandie Perez played second.

As a redshirt freshman, junior Alex Lavine started 44 games at shortstop and was All Pac-10 All-Freshman honorable mention.

Also, redshirt sophomore Chelsea Suitos is listed as a shortstop, after starting 55 games last year at four positions, mostly in right field. Suitos was named Pac-12 all-Freshman honorable mention last year.