Grace Uribe finds new passion for life and softball at SDSU

Softball had always been Grace Uribe’s identity. She lived it, breathed it, wore the softball player cap full-time. She left no room in her life for anything else. But in the blink of an eye, her world turned upside down when she learned that playing her fourth season at Texas A&M wouldn’t be an option. 

A plan that had been mapped out for her since committing during high school was squashed. Everything felt like it was crumbling beneath her. She was dedicated to still graduating from Texas A&M with a degree in psychology. That meant hitting the transfer portal right away as a senior was out of the question.

Softball was forced to be put on the backburner until she could transfer as a graduate student and take her last year of eligibility. While pressing pause on the game that had consumed her every waking moment was unfathomable, it needed to happen.

“My life was softball, and that was my only identity,” Uribe said. “When softball wasn’t going great, I was in a low place. Although softball is such an important part of my life,I don’t think you can be successful at something if you are not a complete person, and I just wasn’t that.”

So, she took the year off to rebuild. The two-way player reconstructed her outlook on life and worked to find a healthy relationship with the game again. It wasn’t easy at times. But while focusing on her degree and career dreams, she placed more value on herself as a person versus the softball player. 

Meanwhile, giving lessons to younger players in her spare time allowed her to perfect her game while in the cage. She also joined the Golden Bay Collegiate League within the American Collegiate League (ACL) to gain live pitching and hitting experience again. 

“I got the opportunity to teach lessons at this local softball and baseball travel organization,” Uribe said. I paid rent to do lessons there and had a cage. And I would use the equipment for myself as well. (I was) pitching and hitting four to five times a week. In the summer, I signed up for one of the ACL leagues, and it just so happened that they opened up a new location right near my hometown, and I got live game reps back.” 

Nearing the end of her year off, Uribe wasn’t going to settle for just any program. San Diego State University was the last place she visited, but it instantly screamed ‘home.’ The California native is minutes away from her own family now. And the promises that SDSU made were the icing on top of the cake.

“On my visit to San Diego State, sure, it was about softball, but I felt valued so much more as a person, and (the visit) was centered around that,” Uribe said. “During that time off, I placed more value on myself than being a softball player. Knowing life will go on after softball gave me peace of mind while on San Diego State’s campus. I knew that would be something important to have for me to be successful.” 

Now, the right-handed pitcher and left-handed batter is having the time of her life and excelling at the game. Every ounce of mental and physical work she put in during her year without collegiate ball has paid off. What was once a setback turned out to be the greatest life lesson. She’s as free and confident as ever, taking nothing for granted.

“I knew that if I were going to get another chance to play softball, I would do it right and not because it was my identity,” Uribe said. “I used to play almost scared and just wasn’t myself anymore. Now, I can’t take it for granted. I go up to bat, and I am going to do exactly what I am supposed to do. And I am going to swing hard, and I am going to go out there and pitch my best because, at the end of the day, I have already won.”

GRACE CALLED GAME!! @gracebelleuribe walks it off! #GoAztecs pic.twitter.com/TCadgLSY4H

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) February 15, 2025

That'll do it! @gracebelleuribe finishes off the Highlanders with a punchout! #GoAztecs

📺: @FloCollegeSB | https://t.co/JmTTU5Dpsz pic.twitter.com/onD59GLK4m

— San Diego State Softball (@AztecSoftball) February 23, 2025

In head coach Stacey Nuveman-Deniz’s 17 years with SDSU, only one other two-way player have come her way. Uribe is the first to do it at a high level. Watching Uribe be a consistent asset to the Aztecs’ lineup while gaining confidence again has proven to be one of the greatest off-season additions to her team. 

“She is in a place where she is valued for all that she brings to the table. Not just her softball skill set,” Nuveman-Deniz said. “We work hard to create an environment that does that. That honors the woman and the human before we honor the softball athlete. We are developing her. Sharpening her edge, and letting her come in and thrive the way she has always wanted to. She has been an awesome addition competitively, but really, her maturity and the way she approaches life and communicates are top-notch.” 

For Uribe, there’s no other way she’d rather end her collegiate story. Coming into her own and being with the gritty underdog Aztecs has been a rewarding experience thus far. As the season progresses, she knows they will continue to battle.

“I feel great about this team,” Uribe said. “I know how gritty we are, how good we are, and how well we connect. We have the College World Series on all of our vision books. I don’t see why it can’t be us. We know that we can do hard things, and there is no doubt in my mind that we can’t beat a single team. I am excited about the future and think we can take it far.”