TicketSmarter WAC Softball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week Announced
DENVER – NM State's Matalasi Faapito and Utah Valley's Devyn Cretz have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Feb. 3-9.
Faapito, a freshman utility from Temecula, Calif., burst onto the scene as she went 8-for-11 (.727) at the plate as the Aggies went 3-1 in the Troy Cox Classic. Faapito hit four home runs on the week, including two against Bradley and one against nationally ranked Arkansas. She also finished the four-game stretch with a .750 on-base percentage, slugged 1.909 and accumulated eight RBI. On top of the two homers in the Aggies 13-4 victory over Bradley, the freshman also brought in four runs, went three for three at the plate and recorded her first extra-base hit as she earned a double in the second inning.
Cretz, a senior right-hander from Corona, Calif., started her 2020 season with a win and a pair of saves, leading the Wolverines to a 3-1 record on opening weekend. Cretz pitched a complete game in a 9-1 win over George Washington and did not allow an earned run. She also picked up saves against Nevada and Long Beach State. The California native posted a 1.31 ERA and collected nine strikeouts on the weekend, including four in her appearances against both George Washington and Nevada. Against Long Beach State, Cretz pitched two innings in relief and did not give up a single hit on her way to earning the save. She was also named to the Puerto Vallarta Challenge All-Tournament Team.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: California Baptist's Mackenzie Budinger hit two home runs and brought in six runs on top of slugging .923 for the weekend… CSU Bakersfield's Samantha Martinez went 5-for-11 in her debut weekend, including two home runs and four RBI… Grand Canyon's Olivia Zufelt led the Lopes with seven RBI, including a walk-off home run against UNM… Seattle U's Stephanie Merwin hit .411 with three extra-base hits in nine at-bats… Utah Valley's Basia Query finished the week hitting .462 with a .533 on base percentage.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: NM State's Matalasi Faapito threw six innings and recorded five strikeouts against a nationally ranked Arkansas team… Seattle U's Shi Smith recorded 13 strikeouts in a 1-0 loss against Northwestern.