DENVER ?“ New Mexico State?™s Stephanie Herrera and San Jose State?™s Kelly Harrison have been named the Western Athletic Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. These are the first player of the week honors of the 2006 season.
Herrera, a sophomore from Pecos, Texas, was named to the 2006 Hilton Las Cruces Invitational all-Tournament team for leading the Aggies to a 3-3 record this week (2-3 at the tournament). Herrera hit her first career home run in the season-opening win over Colorado State on February 9 and drove in a career-high three runs. Three days later, she had another big game against the Rams, going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI. Herrera has hit safely in five-straight games to begin the 2006 season.
Harrison, a sophomore from San Jose, Calif., went 1-1 with a 1.24 ERA as the Spartans started the 2006 season with a 2-2 record. In her first game in a Spartan uniform, Harrison pitched a complete-game shutout, facing one over the minimum. She walked one and struck out five as the Spartans defeated Harrison?™s former team Saint Mary?™s. She also added her first save, pitchings 2.1 innings against San Diego. Batters hit only .135 against her.
Other player of the week nominees included: Robin Mackin of Fresno State hit .333 with six RBI in her first 15 at bats … Tyleen Tausaga of Hawai'i hit .421 as the Rainbow Wahine went 3-2 at their own tournament … Courtney Lewis of San Jose State hit .438 seven hits and one RBI ... Whitnie Ray of Utah State hit .286 with one home run.
Other pitcher of the week nominees included: Robin Mackin of Fresno State went 2-1 with 30 strikeouts in her first collegiate appearances ... Justine Smethhurst of Hawai'i was 2-0 with a 2.55 ERA … Sarah Seagraves of New Mexico State went 3-1 with a 1.86 ERA … Heather Straight of Utah State went 1-1 as the Aggies started the season 1-5.