DENVER – New Mexico State’s Staci Rodriguez and Louisiana Tech’s Michelle Jones have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 11-17. This is the first-ever honor for Rodriguez and the first of the season and second of her career for Jones.
Rodriguez, a sophomore outfielder from Paramount, Calif., led the Aggies at the plate last week with a .400 batting average, a .840 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage. She was 10-for-25 with two doubles, three home runs, a sacrifice fly, two walks and an astounding 13 RBI. Rodriguez posted three multi-hit games and had a hit in six of the team’s seven games last week. In a win over UTEP, she finished with two hits, including a home run, and four RBI. She had her best game against Colorado State on Sunday, when she went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a stand-up double.
Jones, a senior from Scurry, Texas, went 2-1 with a 1.75 ERA and 19 strikeouts. She held opponents to a .155 batting average while leading the Lady Techsters to a 4-1 record at the Cowgirl Classic last weekend. Jones threw a pair of complete-game shutouts, including her first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in the WAC this season. In a 2-0 extra-inning win over McNeese State, she allowed only two hits and no walks while striking out seven. In Tech’s 10-0 five-inning win over Alcorn State, Jones allowed no hits and one walk while striking out seven.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Louisiana Tech’s Erin Kipp hit .500 with three doubles, a homer and seven RBI ... Markesha Collins of San Jose State hit .429 with a double, three home runs and nine RBI ... UT Arlington’s Meagan Michele hit .538 with a homer and three RBI ... Megan Low of UTSA hit .538 with three doubles, two home runs and six RBI ... Utah State’s Rachael Hunsaker hit .273 with one double and one RBI.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: New Mexico State’s Makayla McAdams went 1-1 on the week ... Amanda Pridmore of San Jose State posted 28 strikeouts on the week ... Teri Lyles of UT Arlington went 3-0 with a 1.26 ERA and 17 strikeouts ... Texas State’s Ashley Wright went 2-0 with a 2.47 ERA and eight strikeouts last week.