TicketSmarter WAC Softball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week Announced
DENVER – Seattle U's Bailey Thompson and Grand Canyon's Ryan Denhart have been named the TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for March 22 through March 28.
Thompson, a senior catcher from Tucson, Ariz., led the Redhawks to a pair of victories over NM State as she finished the week three home runs, seven runs batted in and a .500 batting average. Thompson's week was highlighted by a two-home-run, four-RBI outing in a 6-4 victory over the Aggies on Friday.
Denhart, a senior from Los Alamitos, Calif., was instrumental in a sweep of Utah Valley last week as she was responsible for two of the Lopes' three wins over the Wolverines. On Friday, she held UVU scoreless during three innings to set up Grand Canyon for a five-inning victory. Denhart backed up that performance with a complete game victory on Saturday in which she allowed only one run and struck out nine batters on her way to finishing the week with a 0.70 earned-run average.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included: California Baptist's Ashley McBay posted three RBIs and a double last week as the Lancers went 2-1 in their series with Dixie State… Grand Canyon's Lilly Bishop slashed .667/.667/1.222 to help the Lopes complete a three-game sweep of Utah Valley last week… NM State's Kayla Bowen finished the week with a pair of home runs and eight RBIs while batting at a .471 clip… Tarleton's Bailee Riggs went 3-for-3 at the plate against Incarnate Word as she finished the week with a .417 batting average to lead the Texans.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included: NM State's Chloe Rivas gave up just three earned runs in three appearances for the Aggies… Tarleton's Julia Wernet went the distance in both starts last week, including tallying four strikeouts in 7.2 innings against Incarnate Word… Seattle U's Carley Nance logged 10 innings in the circle last week, giving up just two earned runs while striking out nine.