Lafulafu Malepeai, a senior slugger at Sacramento State softball, is leading the team in one of the best offensive seasons in program history. She was diagnosed with a kidney disease, which caused severe swelling and complications, forcing her to stop playing softball. Despite the adversity, Malepea credits her success to head coach Lori Perez, who advocated for her throughout her journey. Despite her struggles, MalePeai is now thriving and batting over.400 while climbing the program record books in batting average, on-base percentage and power numbers. She has also been invited to compete for the first-ever American Samoa national softball team, an opportunity she says carries deep meaning.