UMKC’S KELLEY, GCU’S PESQUEIRA NAMED WAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Kansas City’s Katie Kelley and Grand Canyon’s Stephanie Pesqueira have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 14-20. This is the first-ever honor for Kelley and the third honor of her career for Pesqueira.
Kelley, a sophomore pitcher/utility player from Coweta, Okla., had eight hits, two doubles, two home runs and four RBI in five games last week. She belted homer in each of the team’s non-conference games against South Dakota, tying the program single-season home run record with eight. Kelley had a hit in all five games, including two doubles in the series opener against Utah Valley and led the Kangaroos to their first WAC series win. For the week, she hit .571 and posted a 1.143 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage.
Pesqueira, a senior right-hander from Tempe, Ariz., threw a pair of complete games over the weekend to pick up her league-leading 12th and 13th wins of the season and give the Antelopes sole possession of first place in the WAC standings. She gave up three runs on nine hits while striking out 12 in 14 innings of work. Pesqueira has not suffered a loss in her last 13 starts, dating back to March 21.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Bakersfield’s Karissa Veiga hit .375 with a double and one RBI last week ... Kelsey Barak of Grand Canyon hit .500 with one double, one homer and four RBI on the week ... Utah Valley’s Amanda Robinson hit .417 with three home runs, a double and six RBI on the week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Bakersfield’s Kelsie Monroe went 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA and four strikeouts on the week ... Katie Kelley of Kansas City went 3-0 with 15 strikeouts in three appearances last week ... Seattle U’s Lindsay Davis went 1-1 with a 1.97 ERA in 10.2 innings of work.
GRAND CANYON ONE WIN FROM WAC REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
Grand Canyon swept New Mexico State last weekend to move into first place in the WAC standings. The Antelopes can clinch at least a share of the WAC regular-season title with one win this weekend at Seattle U. The team is on a season-best seven-game winning streak.
UTAH VALLEY’S ROBINSON POSTS THIRD MULTI-HOMER GAME OF CAREER
Utah Valley senior Amanda Robinson notched the third multi-home run game of her career when she homered twice during a 2-for-2, four-RBI performance at Idaho State on April 15. She opened the season with just one long ball in her first 25 games and has now hit seven over 17 games in the month of April.
NM STATE BREAKS WAC RECORD FOR RUNS IN AN INNING
New Mexico State set the record for runs in an inning in a WAC game with 17 in the first inning of the series finale against Bakersfield on April 12. The Aggies plated 17 runs on 11 singles, six walks, two players hit by a pitch and one error. The previous record for runs in an inning was 13 by Hawai‘i against Nevada during the 2010 season.
UTAH VALLEY’S ROBINSON BECOMES ALL-TIME HOME RUN LEADER
On April 12, senior Amanda Robinson became Utah Valley’s all-time leader in home runs when she connected for her 32nd career homer in the fourth inning at Grand Canyon, passing Amanda Perez (2009-2012). Robinson now has 37 home runs on her career.
NM STATE’S ROTHER TIES WAC RECORD FOR WALKS IN A GAME
New Mexico State senior outfielder/catcher Lacey Rother tied the WAC record for walks in a game with four, including one intentional walk, in the series finale against Bakersfield on April 12. She is tied with six other players for the record.
NEW MEXICO STATE PICKED TO WIN 2014 WAC TITLE
In a preseason vote of the six WAC coaches, 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.