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GRAND CANYON'S GONZALEZ, SEATTLE U'S NANCE NAMED WAC ATHLETES OF THE WEEK
Grand Canyon's
Niki Gonzalez and Seattle U's
Carley Nance have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 12-18. This is the first-ever honor for both.
Gonzalez, a senior catcher from Tucson, Ariz., posted a .500 batting average, 1.063 slugging percentage and .529 on-base percentage over five games last week. She had three doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs to lead the Lopes to important wins over No. 17 Ohio State and Cal State Fullerton last week. Gonzalez opened the week with a 2-for-4 game, including a solo homer, in a loss to Iowa. She had her best game of the week against the No. 17 Buckeyes, when she was 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs. Gonzalez closed out the week going 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs in a win over the Titans.
Nance, a redshirt freshman left-hander from Maple Valley, Wash., went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in three appearances last week. She did not allow an earned run in 13.1 innings of work, striking out 10 and walking four while holding opponents to a .176 batting average. Nance pitched six shutout innings in a win over Bryant on Friday, striking out seven. The next day, she tossed five frames, giving up two unearned runs. Nance wrapped up her weekend with 2.1 innings of shutout softball in a 5-1 win over Portland State on Sunday.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's
Chris Hipa hit .333 with a double and two RBIs ...
Lia Lombardini of Kansas City hit .333 with a pair of homers and eight RBIs ... NM State's
Kelsey Horton hit .300 with one double, one home run and two RBIs ...
Ally Choate of Seattle U hit .500 with four RBIs.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: CSU Bakersfield's
Daryn Hitzel went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and six strikeouts in 10.1 innings of work ...
Yesenia Morrison of Grand Canyon went 2-0 with a 3.50 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 20.0 innings ... Kansas City's
Olivia Fluehr went 1-1 with a 3.0767 ERA with seven strikeouts over 13.2 innings last week.
SEVERAL WAC PLAYERS RANK AMONG TOP 50 IN NCAA ACTIVE CAREER LEADERS
Several WAC players rank among the Top 50 nationally in the NCAA's active career leader charts. The rankings and categories are listed below.
| Player |
School |
Category |
Total |
Ranking |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Slugging percentage |
.740 |
14th |
| Sierra Smith |
Grand Canyon |
Triples |
11 |
18th |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Home runs |
39 |
18th |
| Madison Cathcart |
Seattle U |
Slugging percentage |
.708 |
19th |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
Hits |
219 |
19th |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
Stolen bases |
76 |
22nd |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
Triples |
10 |
26th |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
At bats |
603 |
28th |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Total Bases |
318 |
31st |
| Rachel Rodriguez |
NM State |
Runs |
142 |
32nd |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
RBIs |
134 |
38th |
| Kelsey Horton |
NM State |
Batting average |
.386 |
39th |
| Kayla Green |
NM State |
Saves |
6 |
45th |
SEATTLE U ONE WIN SHY OF MATCHING LAST YEAR'S WIN TOTAL
Seattle U currently sits atop the WAC standings with a 19-13 record. With the next win, the Redhawks will match their win total from last season when the team finished 20-32.
NM STATE'S RODRIGUEZ MOVES INTO AGGIE CAREER RECORD BOOKS
Aggie
Rachel Rodriguez worked her way into the NM State record books for career hits. Her 219 hits in her four-year career ranks fourth in program history. The senior now has more hits than her sister Staci Rodriguez, who is tied for sixth all-time in the category.
CSUB'S HITZEL POSTS EXTRA-INNING COMPLETE-GAME VICTORY
CSU Bakersfield freshman
Daryn Hitzel put together an impressive performance in an eight-inning, complete game victory over San Diego on March 17. The Santiago, Calif., native struck out six Toreros while scattering four hits and two walks. Hitzel allowed just one unearned run in the game and gave the Roadrunners the opportunity to walk off in extra innings.
NM STATE RACKING UP WINS AGAINST POWER-5 OPPONENTS
The Aggies have four wins against Power-5 opponents this season. The team opened the season with a doubleheader victory against then-No. 17 Kentucky. NM State also defeated Big 12 opponent Texas Tech on the road. Minnesota was New Mexico State's latest victim when the team took down the Gophers in the series opener on March 16.
SU'S CATHCART LEADS NCAA IN HOMERS, SLUGGING PERCENTAGE, TOTAL BASES
Seattle U first baseman
Madison Cathcart currently leads the NCAA with 16 home runs on the year. She also leads the nation in slugging percentage (1.122) and total bases (101). Cathcart had five home runs as a freshman last season.