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NM STATE'S ILI, UMKC'S LARSON NAMED WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
NM State's Merina Ili and UMKC's Alex Larson have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 13-19. This is the first-ever honor for both.
Ili, a sophomore designated player from Long Beach, Calif., hit .583 over four games last week with three doubles and her first collegiate home run. She had seven RBIs and posted a 1.083 slugging percentage and .615 on-base percentage. In a run-rule victory over Northern Colorado last Thursday, Ili doubled and homered, driving in four runs. The following day against DePaul, she had a pair of doubles.
Larson, a freshman right-hander from Overland Park, Kan., went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in two appearances last week for her first collegiate wins. In Saturday's run-rule victory over Rider, she pitched all five innings for the Roos, giving up just three hits and one walk. The following day, Larson earned the win in relief, scattering two hits over 3.2 innings.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon's Shea Smith hit .381 with two doubles and three RBIs ... Sydney Garcia of UMKC hit .429 with two doubles, two RBIs and four stolen bases ... Seattle U's Paige Bouska hit .400 with two runs scored ... Courtney Beavers of Utah Valley hit .571 with three doubles and two stolen bases.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: Grand Canyon's Taylor Nowlin went 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA and 18 strikeouts ... Kayla Green of NM State went 1-1 with a 2.72 ERA and seven strikeouts in 18.0 innings ... Seattle U's Andie Larkins went 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA and eight strikeouts over 12.0 innings, but threw a one-hitter.
SEATTLE U'S LARKINS TOSSES ONE-HITTER
On Feb. 19 against Montana, Seattle U sophomore hurler Andie Larkins threw a complete game, one-hit shutout to lead the Redhawks to a 2-0 victory over the Grizzlies. She struck out three over seven innings.
UTAH VALLEY'S BEAVERS SETS PROGRAM RECORD FOR HITS IN A GAME
In her first ballgame in a Wolverine uniform, Utah Valley senior outfielder Courtney Beavers set a school record for hits in a game after going 5-for-5 from the plate on Feb. 17 against San Diego at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. The leadoff hitter went a perfect 5-for-5 from the leadoff spot in the contest with three doubles, two runs scored and a stolen base en route to the new Utah Valley record.
GCU'S NOWLIN, SMITH NAMED TO ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Grand Canyon senior pitcher Taylor Nowlin and sophomore shortstop Shea Smith were named to the all-tournament team at the Getterman Classic Feb. 17-19. Nowlin went a near perfect 3-1, collecting three of GCU's four wins. She had a phenomenal outing against No. 23 Baylor, allowing just four hits with four strikeouts. She didn't allow the game-winning run until the sixth inning. In a nine inning outing against UTSA, Nowlin came in relief allowing just one hit through 4.0 innings to lift GCU to the win. In the Lopes' second extra inning game of the weekend, Nowlin came in relief in the eighth against Lamar allowing nothing to get GCU back up to bat. Nowlin rattled off 18 strikeouts on the weekend. She has yet to allow more than five hits in an appearance thus far.
Smith hit .333 on the weekend with two doubles and three RBIs. Against No. 23 Baylor Smith drew and walk and stole a base. In the second victory over North Texas, Smith smashed an RBI double to give GCU back the lead. She finished the weekend with a .444 slugging percentage.
SEATTLE U TALLIES 14 HITS AGAINST MONTANA
In Seattle U's 6-3 win over Montana on Feb. 18, the Redhawks compiled a season-high 14 hits, as six different players - Paige Bouska, Kaylee Ree, Maddy Kristjanson, Savannah Loomis, Megan Ottino and Jessica Flanagan - had two hits apiece in the contest.