DENVER Fresno States Rachael Donaldson and Louisiana Techs Lindsey Meadows have been named the Western Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. This is the first honor this season for both Donaldson and Meadows.
Donaldson, a sophomore leftfielder from Murrieta, Calif., was named to the Bulldog Classic all-tournament team, as she helped Fresno State to a 4-2 home record. With a team-best 17 total bases to go along with a team-high 1.063 slugging percentage last week, Donaldson also led the Bulldogs in hits (8), home runs (2) and RBI (8). She also scored four runs, a double, a triple and a sacrifice fly. She hit her first career grand slam in Fresno States 9-5 win over UC Santa Barbara. Breaking a 5-5 tie, the home run was Donaldsons third of the year as well as the Bulldog softball programs 18th grand slam and third hit at Bulldog Diamond since 1991.
Meadows, a senior pitcher from Baker, La., registered a 5-2 record during the week along with a 1.29 earned run average. Meadows allowed only eight earned runs on 13 hits while pitching 43.1 innings. She also struck out 47 batters and issued only eight walks during the week. Meadows fanned a career-high 14 batters in a 3-2 extra inning win over Mississippi Valley State, propelling Tech into the championship game of the Birmingham Southern Tournament. Meadows was named the pitcher on the all-tournament team.
Other player of the week nominees included: Tara Harbert, Hawaii; Ashley Cameron, Louisiana Tech; Kari Stockstill, Nevada; Elisa Barrios, San Jose State and Katie Torres, Tulsa.
Other pitcher of the week nominees included: Laura Ferreira, Fresno State and Julie Fennell, Tulsa.