NM STATE'S RODRIGUEZ, GRAND CANYON'S NOWLIN NAMED WAC PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State's Staci Rodriguez and Grand Canyon's Taylor Nowlin have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 30-April 5. This is the first honor of the season and sixth of her career for Rodriguez, and the second honor of the season and third of her career for Nowlin.
Rodriguez, a senior outfielder from Paramount, Calif., hit .667 with three doubles, a home run, six RBIs and seven runs scored in a series sweep at Seattle U last week. She posted a 1.333 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage and drew one walk over the three games. Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with a double and a grand slam in the second game of the series, driving in five runs. In the series finale, she was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles. With her home run in game two, Rodriguez became just the second Aggie in program history to reach the 50 home run mark on her career.
Nowlin, a sophomore from Peoria, Ariz., went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in the circle for Grand Canyon, surrendering just two hits while not allowing a run in 8.2 innings of work. In her two relief-effort wins, the left-hander fanned 15 to move her season total to a WAC-best 108. In the second game of the series at Missouri-Kansas City, Nowlin threw 4 2/3 innings in relief, giving up two hits while striking out eight. In the series finale, she threw four hitless innings, striking out seven. For the week, Nowlin held opponents to a .074 batting average. She now has 10 wins on the season, which ranks second in the conference.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon's Camree Wartman hit .455 with a pair of homers and six RBIs last week ... Missouri-Kansas City's Alexandra Friloux hit .400 with two doubles, one RBI and four stolen bases.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Missouri-Kansas City's Amber Grove went 1-1 with a 2.71 ERA and six strikeouts over 10.1 innings ... Makayla McAdams of New Mexico State went 1-0 with a 1.00 ERA in one appearance last week ... Utah Valley's Bailey Moore went 1-1 with a 1.00 ERA and seven strikeouts in 14.0 innings of work.
NM STATE'S FINAU SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A HOMER
New Mexico State junior Fiana Finau hit a home run in six straight games - against Arizona on March 21, at New Mexico on March 24, in all three of the WAC games against Utah Valley on March 27-28 and in the series opener at Seattle U on April 3 - to set a school record. Finau fell just short of the NCAA record of seven games.
GRAND CANYON KEEPS WAC SERIES WIN STREAK ALIVE
Grand Canyon swept the series at Missouri-Kansas City last weekend to pick up its second series win of the season, as it took two of three games from Seattle U to open WAC play. Dating back to last season, which was GCU's first in the WAC and at the Division I level, the Lopes have yet to lose a WAC series.
NM STATE'S RODRIGUEZ BECOMES SECOND AGGIE EVER WITH 50 HOMERS
New Mexico State senior outfielder Staci Rodriguez belted her 50th career home run, a grand slam in the second game of the series at Seattle U on April 4 to become just the second Aggie ever to reach the milestone. She now has 52 homers on her career, 12 shy of all-time home run leader Hoku Nohara, who finished her career with 64.
UTAH VALLEY LEADS NATION IN DOUBLE PLAYS PER GAME
Utah Valley turned three more double plays last weekend to move into first place nationally with 0.75 double plays per game. The Wolverines have 30 double plays this season through 40 games.
GRAND CANYON'S HENRY APPROACHING PROGRAM HITS RECORD
Grand Canyon senior Kayla Henry currently has 256 career hits. The outfielder needs eight more hits to tie Randi Johns' all-time career hits mark of 264.
SU'S MORROW SETS PROGRAM CAREER DOUBLES RECORD
Seattle U senior catcher Bubba Morrow set the Seattle U all-time career doubles record with her 33rd in the third inning of game two vs. Portland State on April 1, surpassing the previous record set by Allegra Wilde (2010-13). Lisa Maulden (32) and Jenny Hurst (29) are also in the Top 5 in the same category. Morrow also sits in second place with 30 career home runs and 117 RBIs, trailing record holder Jane Purdy (2005-08) in both categories (37 homers, 162 RBIs).
NM STATE RANKS IN TOP 10 IN SIX OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES
New Mexico State ranks in the top 10 nationally in six offensive categories. The Aggies are fourth in doubles per game (1.88), seventh in both batting average (.352) and scoring (7.76), eighth in slugging percentage (.609), ninth in on-base percentage (.447) and 10th in home runs per game (1.56).