Arizona softball missed out on infielder Sereniti Trice when she was in high school, but got a second chance her sophomore year, where she’s fit in at second base and No. 2 in the batting order.
In Arizona’s first five games, Trice is hitting .563 with a .588 on-base percentage, a double, a triple, six runs and four RBIs. On defense, she has a 1.000 fielding percentage with nine putouts and seven assists.
Arizona second baseman Sereniti Trice (00) drifts into no-man’s land to glove a pop up by Oklahoma’s Sydney Barker in the sixth inning of their game, Feb. 6, 2026, in Tucson.
The 5-foot-2 slap hitter is from San Diego and went to Cathedral Catholic there.
The UA didn’t sign Trice out of high school. Instead she went to Iowa State.
“You know, I could lie and say that I did, and I didn't and I kicked my butt every day for that, you know?” Lowe said about looking at Trice in high school. “She wants to be the best at what she does every day and you're going to see her get better throughout her years here.”
Arizona returns to action this weekend with the Bear Down Fiesta against Drake (4-1), Coastal Carolina (2-3), Utah Valley (2-3) and Creighton (2-3) Thursday through Sunday.
When she was in the portal, Trice knew Arizona was where she wanted to be.
“I feel like there was no place I'd rather be when I came on campus, I kind of knew immediately from the girls and the coaches,” Trice said. “It just felt like home from the get, so just so excited to be here and it's really like a big opportunity for me.”
Trice was the Cyclones’ lead-off hitter for all but five games last year. She had a .354 batting average in 2025 and led Iowa State with 14 stolen bases.
Arizona infielder Sereniti Trice (00) runs through second base during Game 1 of the Candrea Classic against Southern Utah at Hillenbrand Stadium, Feb. 5, 2026.
She was ninth in the Big 12 in stolen bases, 10th in runs (44) and 11th in hits (63).
Trice just missed out on getting to play with ex-Iowa State pitcher Saya Swain, who transferred to Arizona for her last season.
“I talked to Saya when I was at Iowa State and then obviously when I transferred here to Arizona, but she was someone I was excited to play with," Trice said. "Then when she transferred ... just like crazy how like the paths kind of crossed and we both ended up at Arizona and she told me how much she loved it here. So I was just really excited to also come here and see what it's about."
Last year, Trice had the highest fielding percentage of any Iowa State fielder who had 100-plus chances. She forms a double play tandem with senior infielder Tayler Biehl, the 2024 Pac-12 Co-Defensive Player of the Year.
“It's been great, she’s so much fun,” Biehl said about playing with Trice. “You don’t have to say anything, just look at her and know that we're on the same page, always. Just been great getting to know her on and off the field this fall and January, so I'm just excited for the rest of the season with her because she just brings so much fun energy and positivity out there.”
Trice was second team All-Big 12 and on the Big 12 Academic All-Rookie Team last season.
Lowe said she loves the Biehl/Trice duo in “all aspects.”
“I think we're gonna do a lot of good things double play-wise, especially with who we have on the mound, clientele-wise there,” Lowe said. “They’re incredibly consistent with their performance from the first pitch Thursday to the last pitch Sunday. They just show up, and I think they've bought into that relationship and how important it is, and Sereniti was someone that the infield embraced right away, Day 1.
Arizona shortstop Tayler Biehl (2), left, and second baseman Sereniti Trice (00) try to get their defense lined up during the third inning against Oklahoma, Feb. 6, 2026, in Tucson.
“I think it's great and it's only going to continue to get better."
Trice has been batting second behind junior utility Regan Shockey.
“Regan’s a really big role model for me, so I feed off of her and I hope that she can feed off me a little bit, but I think we just have each other's back,” Trice said. “We communicate a lot just at the top of the lineup, what we're seeing, we offer different things and similar things, so I think it just complements each other well and it's just awesome having Regan up there and her being able to help me grow as a player, as well.”
Lowe said those two are pretty interchangeable.
“It's a pretty hard combo to defend, so they've bought into that and really their strengths," Lowe said. "I'm so glad they had the fall together to absolutely grow off each other because some things that Regan’s been working on are things that Sereniti really just has in her pocket as a strength and then vice versa, too. They've been able to really help each other in those areas.”
Trice has gotten to reunite with UA freshman infielder Sina Talataina, who went to Cathedral Catholic, too, and has played at first base this year.
“Oh, it's so much fun, I mean, I've known Sina since, I don't even know how long, she was 8 maybe," Trice said. "So I think it's like a full circle moment, obviously, but just like her being in college with me is like something that we couldn't have imagined, and she's one of my best friends. It's just awesome to be on the field with her and help her kind of go through the college experience.
Arizona catcher/infielder Sina Talataina (21) catches a pass during an early morning practice at Hillenbrand Stadium, Oct. 15, 2025.
“College is definitely different than high school is and we played in high school together, so I'm really excited to see how she does this season and she’s gonna shock everyone, which would be great.”
Extra bases
– UA rose to No. 15 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25, up three spots.
– Friday is Hispanic Heritage Night, and UA will be giving out ¡Jueguen Pelota! shirts. Sunday will feature postgame autographs.
