DENVER Hawaiis Kristi Yoshizawa and Tulsas Ami Day have been named the Western Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. This is the first player of the week of the 2005 season. This is Yoshizawas first honor, while Day had earned the honor four times.
Yoshizawa, a junior from Rancho Cordova, Calif., earned all-tournament honors for the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic. She hit the game-tying, two-run double in the top of the seventh inning against No. 9 Washington. She also scored the game-winning run on a passed ball. She ended the rain-shortened tournament, batting .500 with five hits and two runs scored.
Day, a senior pitcher from Catoosa, Okla., picked up back-to-back wins against Big 12 opponents by pitching the final five outs in Tulsas dramatic come-from-behind win against Oklahoma State. Day also had a complete-game win over Kansas. Day owns the school record for wins in a career, currently with 48 victories. She struck out seven in three appearances and pitched one complete game.
Other player of the week nominees included: Danielle Eakins, San Jose State and Katie Torres, Tulsa.
Other pitcher of the week nominees included: None