DENVER –
New Mexico State’s Hoku Nohara has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week, while Boise State’s Aubray Zell and Hawai`i’s Kaia Parnaby share WAC Pitcher of the Week honors for Feb. 28-March 5. This is the first honor of the season and fourth of her career for Nohara, the first-ever honor Zell and the first honor of the season and second of her career for Parnaby.
Nohara, a senior infielder from Waimanalo, Hawai`i, recorded eight hits, including six home runs and 11 RBI, in five games at the Arizona State Wilson/DeMarini Invitational last weekend. She hit .500 on the weekend, with a .529 on-base percentage and a 1.625 slugging percentage. She hit a home run in four of the five games and belted two homers in each of her final two games on the weekend. The all-time leader in home runs at NM State already has 14 this season.
Zell, a junior from Lakewood, Calif., went 2-0 with a pair of shutouts against Southern Utah last week, including the first no-hitter in Boise State history. In a 12-0 five-inning game shortened by the run rule, Zell matched her career high with eight strikeouts. It was a dropped strike three that resulted in the only base runner of the game for SUU, keeping Zell from perfection. The following day, she earned her fifth career shutout, striking out seven without walking a batter. For the week, Zell posted a 0.00 ERA, a .122 opponent batting average, 15 strikeouts and no walks.
Parnaby, a sophomore from Bilgola Plateau, NSW, Australia, fired her first career perfect game in a 6-0 win over Weber State on Sunday. She tied her career high with 12 strikeouts while getting three ground outs and five fly outs for the victory. It was Parnaby’s first shutout of the season and raised her record to 5-1 on the year.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Boise State’s Devon Bridges hit .571 with two doubles, four home runs and seven RBI on the week … Haley Gilleland of Fresno State hit .353 with a double and two RBI on the week … Hawai’i’s Jenna Rodriguez hit .455 with a home run and four RBI on the week … Britton Murdock of Nevada hit .563 with a .688 slugging percentage on the week … Utah State’s Kassy Uchida hit .429 with one RBI on the week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Fresno State’s Mackenzie Oakes went 1-2 with a save … Mallary Darby of Nevada tossed a no-hitter and went 2-1 with a 2.85 ERA on the week.