DENVER – Boise State’s Kathy Cox and Hawai`i’s Stephanie Ricketts have been named the Verizon Wireless Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 22-28. This is the first-ever honor for Cox and the second honor of the season and fourth of her career for Ricketts.
Cox, a senior third baseman from Gresham, Ore., racked up seven hits, including four home runs, to go with eight runs and six RBI last week in leading the Broncos to a 5-0 record on the week, including a sweep of New Mexico State to open WAC play. She hit .467 on the week, including a .556 clip in the three WAC games, and had three multi-hit games and three multi-RBI games. In the first game of the series vs. the Aggies, she belted two solo shots as the Broncos won 8-2. In the series finale, she gave Boise State a much-needed lift with a two-run homer. She now has a school record 12 homers this season.
Ricketts, a sophomore from San Jose, Calif., went 2-0 with a 0.41 ERA in two complete games against San Jose State last week. She pitched 17.0 innings, allowing just three runs, one earned, and struck out eight. In the WAC opener, she threw a season-high 10 innings, giving up two runs (one earned) in UH’s longest game of the season. In the second game of the series, Ricketts was one out away from a complete game shutout, but an error in the seventh led to SJSU’s only run of the game. She was able to hold the hot-hitting Spartans to a .175 average.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Fresno State’s Andrea Ortega hit .636 with five doubles last week … Kelly Majam of Hawai`i hit .385 with three home runs on the week … Louisiana Tech’s Meghan Knowles hit .455 with six RBI last week … Noelle Micka of Nevada hit .455 for the week and extended her hitting streak to 20 straight games … Utah State’s Nicole Rupp-Tindall hit .545 on the week and hit the game-winning home run in game two vs. Louisiana Tech.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Boise State’s Allie Crump went 3-0 on the week and held NM State to only two earned runs … Michelle Moses of Fresno State went 1-0 and posted a 1.75 ERA on the week … Louisiana Tech’s Meghan Krieg was 2-1 on the week with a 2.33 ERA and a WAC-best 26 strikeouts.