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UMKC'S KELLEY, SEATTLE U'S LARKINS NAMED WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Missouri-Kansas City's Katie Kelley and Seattle U's Andie Larkins have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 22-28. This is Kelley's first honor of the season and fifth of her career (four Hitter, one Pitcher) and the first-ever honor for Larkins.
Kelley, a senior utility player from Coweta, Okla., hit .538 with seven hits, two doubles, three runs scored and nine RBIs over four games. She posted a .692 slugging percentage and a .600 on-base percentage and two walks. Kelley recorded a hit in every game, bringing her hitting streak to five games. In a win over Drake, she recorded a team-high six RBIs, the most by a UMKC player since she tallied seven in a game last season.
Larkins, a freshman from Tucson, Ariz., picked up both wins for the Redhawks last weekend. For the week, she went 2-1 with a 1.33 ERA and nine strikeouts over 21.0 innings. Larkins, who struck out six in a win at Saint Mary's on Feb. 28, held opponents to a .241 batting average on the week. She has earned the decision in all five wins this season for Seattle U.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon's Nicole Newbury hit .588 with two doubles and three RBIs ... Paige Bouska of Seattle U hit .333 with a triple and two RBIs ... Utah Valley's Brianna Gatlin hit .400 with three doubles, one home run and three RBIs over five games.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon's Taylor Nowlin went 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 11.0 innings ... Amber Grove of Missouri-Kansas City went 2-0 with a 3.71 ERA and seven strikeouts over 17.0 innings last week.
NM STATE RANKS IN TOP 20 NATIONALLY IN SEVERAL OFFENSIVE CATEGORIES
NM State currently ranks 10th nationally in batting average (.371), 12th in stolen bases per game (2.35), 14th in on-base percentage (.458) and 16th in slugging percentage (.575). The Aggies are also 32nd in home runs per game (1.06) and 39th in scoring (6.41).
GRAND CANYON'S OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
Through 17 games this season, Grand Canyon is outscoring its opponents 131 to 64. The Lopes' largest margin of victory is 18 runs, with one 10-run victory, one nine-run win and four victories by eight runs. Five of Grand Canyon's 12 victories have been shutouts.
SEATTLE U'S KRISTJANSON LEADS NATION IN SACRIFICE FLIES
Seattle U sophomore Maddy Kristjanson is currently tied with nine other players for the national lead in sacrifice flies with three. She has had sacrifice flies against Idaho State (Feb. 19), Santa Clara (Feb. 20) and Sacramento State (Feb. 28).
EIGHT OF NM STATE'S 11 VICTORIES BY RUN RULE
NM State is currently 11-6 on the season, with eight of its 11 victories coming by run rule. The Aggies have won three games by 10 runs, two games by nine runs and three games by eight runs and have posted three shutouts this season.
GCU'S NOWLIN THROWS TWO NO-HITTERS, COMBINES FOR A THIRD
Grand Canyon's Taylor Nowlin pitched her second no-hitter of the season on Feb. 19 against Utah State, only allowing only one base runner via a walk and striking out five. The junior also threw a no-hitter in a five-inning win over Loyola Marymount on Feb. 14 and combined with Bailey Bergman to no-hit UMBC in the season opener on Feb. 12.
UVU'S SMITH SETS PROGRAM STEALS RECORD
With her fourth stolen base of the season in the third inning of the Mary Nutter Classic finale against Binghamton on Feb. 21, Utah Valley senior Morgan Smith became the program's all-time leader in stolen bases with 41. Smith, who also holds the school record for all-time triples with 11, passed Meghan Yocom's (2008-2011) previous UVU record of 40. Smith is now 41-for-47 for her career in stolen bases.
CSUB'S RAEBER TIES PROGRAM DIVISION I STRIKEOUT RECORD
CSU Bakersfield senior Sydney Raeber recorded a program Division I single-game-tying 10 strikeouts in a complete-game victory over UC Davis on Valentine's Day. She only walked two batters.
NMSU'S HORTON HITS THREE HOMERS IN FIRST FOUR AT BATS
NM State freshman Kelsey Horton opened her career as an Aggie with three home runs in her first four at-bats. Her first at-bat was a grand slam in the bottom of a nine-run first inning for the Aggies on Feb. 12.