DENVER – Hawai`i’s Jessica Iwata and Louisiana Tech’s Meghan Krieg have been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 5-11. This is the first-ever honor for Iwata and the second honor of the season and fourth of her career for Krieg.
Iwata, a freshman shortstop from Lihu`e, Kaua`i, hit .600 with a 1.600 slugging percentage and .636 on-base percentage as the Rainbow Wahine posted series sweeps of Utah State and Boise State on the road last week. She had 12 hits, six of which were home runs, two grand slams and 17 RBI in five games last week. In UH’s first game of the week at Utah State, she put the game away in the top of the sixth with her first career grand slam. In the second half of the doubleheader, she matched her career high with four hits. In the series finale at Boise State, Iwata tied the school and WAC record with three home runs and drove in a school-record eight RBI, tying the WAC single-game record. Iwata hit safely in all five games and is in the middle of a career-high 11 game hitting streak.
Krieg, a junior from Sonora, Texas, was a perfect 3-0 on the week with a 1.33 ERA. She recorded three complete-game victories while holding opponents to a .187 batting average on the week. In 21.0 innings, Krieg allowed 14 hits while striking out 25 batters and walking 10. She also recorded her 500th career strikeout in Tech’s 2-1 win over New Mexico State in the first game of the three-game WAC series, becoming only the sixth player in program history to reach the mark. She also recorded her 200th strikeout of the season in Saturday’s win, becoming just the second player in Tech history with multiple seasons of 200 or more strikeouts. In two wins over NM State, a team that entered the weekend ranked first in the WAC with a .340 batting average, Krieg held the Aggies to nine hits and two runs in 14.0 innings. Krieg has now won six straight decisions.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Boise State’s Kellie Kaplan hit .533 last week … Nicole Angene of Fresno State hit .625 with four RBI on the week … Nevada’s Kelsey Starr hit .571 with three doubles and seven RBI in three games last week … San Jose State’s Kelli Fangonilo hit .308 on the week ... Simone Hubbard of Utah State hit .385 with three RBI last week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Fresno State’s Michelle Moses went 1-0 with a 0.88 ERA and a save last week … Stephanie Ricketts of Hawai`i went 4-0 on the week with a 1.69 ERA … San Jose State’s Amanda Pridmore of went 2-0 and posted two saves last week.