DENVER – New Mexico State’s Malena Padilla and Utah Valley’s Bailey Moore have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 16-22. This is the first-ever honor for both.
Padilla, a senior outfielder from Oakley, Calif., finished with a .571 batting average, a 1.429 slugging percentage and a .571 on-base percentage in three games last week, posting a pair of home runs and seven RBIs. She belted a couple of home runs on the week, her seventh and eighth of the season, tying her for second-most on the team this season. Padilla’s first long ball came in a come-from-behind win versus I-10 rival UTEP, a grand slam that was part of an eight-run sixth inning for the Aggies, who trailed 6-4 entering the inning. It was her third grand slam this season and she tied her season high with five RBIs in the game. Padilla then got a hit during each game against No. 17 Arizona, extending her current hitting streak to seven games. In the second game against the Wildcats, she hit her second home run of the week and picked up two more RBIs to now lead the squad with 36 RBIs on the season.
Moore, a sophomore from Ely, Nev., threw the first no-hitter in the WAC this season and just the second in program history last week. After suffering two losses prior in the week, she turned it around against Brigham Young, as she did not allow a hit in 5.0 innings of work en route to the no-hitter. Moore, who struck out two in the contest, helped Utah Valley pick up its first-ever win over BYU in Provo in 16 tries. For the week, she went 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA with nine strikeouts in three starts, five appearances and 25.0 innings of work.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon’s Haley Walker hit .440 with three doubles, a home run and six RBIs last week ... Brianna Gatlin of Utah Valley hit .600 with two doubles, two homers and six RBIs in five games last week.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon’s Kailey Regester went 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA and nine strikeouts over 23.2 innings ... Dallas McBride of New Mexico State went 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA and five strikeouts in 4.2 innings on the week.