OKLAHOMA CITY — Cal State Fullerton associate head coach Jorge Araujo and the Mexico national team punched their ticket to the 2027 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals following a second-place finish at Devon Park from Sept. 12-16. 

The six-team group featured the United States, China, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Brazil. Senior shortstop Sarah Perez, junior third baseman Sarah Coccillos, and 2026 graduate catcher Alexia Lopez joined Araujo in Oklahoma City. 

After opening the tournament with consecutive shutout losses to the United States and the Netherlands, Mexico won four of its final five games to move one step closer to qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games. 

"Winning four out of five down the stretch was a direct result of trusting our preparation, staying unified through adversity, and taking it one pitch at a time," Araujo said. "It showed the true character and grit of this group when everything was on the line."

Perez started all seven games at shortstop. She posted a .400 batting average, ranking among the top 10 hitters in the tournament. The 2026 Big West Field Player of the Year finished with eight hits, six runs, three walks, two stolen bases and one RBI. 

"That experience has given SP noticeable poise and confidence at the plate, whether she's wearing a Team Mexico jersey or playing for Fullerton," Araujo said. "Seeing elite spin and movement internationally makes her plate appearances at the college level feel much more manageable."

Defensively, Perez recorded a .929 fielding percentage with five putouts and eight assists. 

Coccillos started four of the six games she played at third base. The 2026 Big West Defensive Player of the Year made three putouts and four assists at the hot corner. Despite going 1-for-11 at the plate, her hit came as a grand slam in a seven-run inning against New Zealand on Sept. 14. 
 

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Lopez, a 2026 All-Big West First Team selection, started six games behind the plate. She recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage with 27 putouts and four assists. At the plate, she slashed .462/.846/.533 with six hits, two doubles and a home run. Lopez drove in two runs and scored twice. Her diving, barehanded double play grab behind the plate made the SportsCenter Top 3. 

"Lex took complete ownership of our pitching staff, calling a relentless game and keeping hitters off-balance. She shut down their running game, blocked everything in the dirt to eliminate extra bases, and kept our entire defense calm and grounded during high-stress innings," Araujo said. "Having a catcher operate at that elite level gives the whole defense the confidence to make aggressive, game-changing plays."
 

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The United States shut out Mexico 11-0 on one hit to open the tournament, while the Netherlands defeated them in a 2-0 victory. 

Mexico evened its record at 2-2 on Sept. 14 with a 9-2 victory over Brazil and a 10-3 win over New Zealand. Perez went 2-for-2 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base, while Lopez went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a run. Coccillos went 1-for-3 with a grand slam to extend Mexico's lead. 

Despite falling to China 2-1 to finish the opening round in fourth place, Mexico advanced to the playoffs for rematches against the Netherlands and China. A 7-0 victory against the Netherlands granted Mexico a second shot at China in the finale. 

Mexico secured its spot in the 2027 WBSC Women's Softball World Cup Finals with an 8-6 victory over China. The game was tied at 6-6 after four innings before Lopez launched a ball to left field for a solo home run and a 7-6 lead. Mexico added another solo home run in the sixth inning to seal the automatic bid to the finals. 

Araujo and the Mexico national team are scheduled to play in Redcliffe, Australia, from April 5-11, 2027. Mexico will join the United States, China, Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, and Chinese Taipei in seeking qualification for the 2028 Summer Olympic Games. 

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