UTAH VALLEY’S KOFLER, SUMMERS NAMED WAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Utah Valley’s Hailey Kofler and Josi Summers have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 3-9. This is the first-ever honor for both.
Kofler, a freshman utility player from Temecula, Calif., led Utah Valley to a 4-0 record at the Rebel Spring Games over the weekend, snapping a 15-game losing skid that dated back to last season. She hit .462 with three home runs, two doubles, seven RBI, five runs scored and two stolen bases in four games. Kofler also posted a 1.308 slugging percentage and a .533 on-base percentage, and drew two walks. She hit two home runs against Manhattan, including a crucial two-run shot that tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth. Kofler notched another homer and a combined four RBI in the Wolverines’ two Sunday wins over Siena and Saint Peter’s.
Summers, a senior right-hander from Tremonton, Utah, went 2-0 with a 0.55 ERA and 11 strikeouts in two starts at the Rebel Spring Games last week. She threw 7.2 innings of an eight-inning affair against Sacred Heart, picking up the win behind a season-high seven strikeouts. Summers earned her second win of the weekend the following day, allowing Siena just one hit through 5.0 innings and striking out four.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Bakersfield’s Sydney Raeber hit .429 with three doubles and six RBI in five games last week ... Kelsey Barak of Grand Canyon hit .294 with three home runs and five RBI over six games last week ... Kansas City’s Cinda Ramon hit .667 with a double, a home run and four RBI in three games ... Staci Rodriguez of New Mexico State hit .308 with a double, two homers and five RBI in five games last week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Bakersfield’s Kelsie Monroe went 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 25.2 innings last week ... Stephanie Pesqueira of Grand Canyon was 1-2 with a 3.13 ERA and eight strikeouts ... Kansas City’s Cinda Ramos was 1-0 with a 0.95 ERA and eight strikeouts in two appearances last week ... Makayla McAdams of New Mexico State posted a 1.75 ERA and four strikeouts in 16.0 innings of work.
SEATTLE U POSTS DIVISION I RECORD SEVEN-GAME WIN STREAK
Seattle U posted a seven-game win streak from Feb. 22 to March 2. The last time the Redhawks won seven in a row was during the 2008 season at the Division II level, when the team won 11 straight games to open the season.
NEW MEXICO STATE SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR HOME RUNS IN A GAME
In its 14-5 five-inning win over Seton Hall on Feb. 28, New Mexico State hit a school record seven home runs. Fiana Finau and Staci Rodriguez hit a pair of home runs apiece, while Lacey Rother, Kelsey Dodd and Tatum Reedy added one homer each. It was the fourth time this season the Aggies had 10 or more RBI in a game.
GRAND CANYON’S WARTMAN POSTS WAC-BEST 15-GAME HITTING STREAK
Grand Canyon freshman infielder Camree Wartman posted a WAC-best 15-game hitting streak from Feb. 7-23. Included in the streak were hits in two games against No. 24 Arizona and one against No. 4 Alabama, as well as six multi-hit games.
RODOLPH PICKS UP 300TH WIN AT NEW MEXICO STATE
New Mexico State head coach Kathy Rodolph picked up her 300th victory at NM State with an 11-2 win over Incarnate Word on Feb. 22. She is 306-291 (.513) in 11 seasons with the Aggies.
GRAND CANYON’S PIERSON EARNS 300TH CAREER WIN
Grand Canyon head coach Ann Pierson tallied her 300th career victory on Feb. 22 with a 9-4 win over Southern Utah. In her 11th season of coaching, Pierson has a 304-252-2 (.547) record, all with the Antelopes.
POWERS PICKS UP 250TH CAREER WIN
Seattle U head coach Dan Powers picked up his 250th career victory on Feb. 16 in a 4-2 win over Akron. In his 11th season at the helm, Powers has a 257-256-1 (.501) career record.
NEW MEXICO STATE POSTS BACK-TO-BACK WALK-OFF WINS
New Mexico State posted a pair of walk-off wins on Feb. 15 over Northern Colorado and Iowa State. The first was a walk-off grand slam by junior Staci Rodriguez for the 4-3 win over the Bears, followed by a walk-off single by sophomore Brennalyn Nakamura to beat Iowa State, 5-4.
RETURNING ALL-CONFERENCE PLAYERS
Three first team All-WAC players from last year return in New Mexico State’s Staci Rodriguez, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, and Seattle U’s Bubba Morrow and Isabella Geronimo. New Mexico State’s Emma Adams and Malena Padilla are the lone returners from the second team.
Bakersfield’s Shay Fryer and Karissa Veiga were named first team All-Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) last year, while Amber Mills was named to the second team and Kelsie Monroe was an honorable mention honoree. Utah Valley’s Amanda Robinson was named first team All-PCSC, while teammate Jamie North was named to the second team and Kelli Fox and Josi Summers were honorable mention honorees.
Katie Kelley of Kansas City was named first team All-Summit League. Meanwhile, Grand Canyon’s Stephanie Pesqueira, Kayla Henry and Claire Zampini were named first team All-PacWest, with Pesqueira also earning Pitcher of the Year honors. Teammates Kiki Sepulveda, and Kailey Regester were named second team All-PacWest, while Lauren Regester and Nicole Newbury were third team selections.
NEW MEXICO STATE PICKED TO WIN 2014 WAC TITLE
In a preseason vote of the six WAC coaches, who could not vote for their own team, New Mexico State was selected as the preseason favorite to win the title. The Aggies took the top spot with 25 points and five first-place votes, followed by Seattle U in second place with 19 points and the other first-place vote. Utah Valley was third with 14 points, just ahead of Bakersfield in fourth place with 13 points. Kansas City and Grand Canyon rounded out the poll with 10 and nine points, respectively.
SEATTLE U TO HOST 2014 WAC TOURNAMENT
Seattle U will host the 2014 WAC Softball Tournament. The five eligible teams will advance to the double-elimination tournament, which will be held at Logan Field May 8-10. It is the first time the Redhawks have hosted the event.