Cienna Kowaleski brings glove-first reliability and emerging pop at first base for Santa Clara
In the 2026 season, freshman Cienna Kowaleski played in 16 games with 11 starts at first base, hit .242 (8-for-33), drove in a run in her first career hit against UC Santa Barbara, and posted a slick .988 fielding percentage with just one error in 85 chances. Santa Clara’s staff described her as a power-hitting first baseman, and her high-school résumé backs that up: she hit .536 as a senior and arrived with national top-100 prospect buzz. She looks like a steady infield fit with upside if the bat keeps climbing.