2026 WAC SB Release - Week 9

DE NAVA DOMINANCE LEADS TO CBU SWEEP
California Baptist picked up the series sweep over Utah Valley last weekend after a dominant Friday showing from the Lancer ace and WAC Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week, Miranda De Nava. De Nava tossed two complete games against the Wolverines on Friday, including the full 11-inning thriller on game two of the double-header, allowing only one earned run in the 18 innings pitched while tallying 16 strikeouts. De Nava also threw five shutout innings against UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, allowing only one hit against the Gauchos. Through the 23.0 innings pitched last week, De Nava accumulated 22 strikeouts and recorded a 0.30 ERA.
 
UT ARLINGTON COLLECTS SECOND SERIES VICTORY OVER TEXAS RIVALS
UT Arlington started off conference play with back-to-back series victories against in-state rivals Abilene Christian and Tarleton State, putting the Mavericks second in the WAC standings behind CBU. UTA secured the series win against the Texans with a 7-4 victory in game one of the Saturday double-header where Kynlee Bowlin pitched six scoreless frames after allowing four runs in the first inning. Talia Maldonado went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in both UTA wins.
 
TRAILBLAZERS TEE OFF ON FRIDAY TO SECURE THE SERIES AGAINST SUU
Utah Tech’s offense exploded in last Friday’s double-header against Southern Utah for two run-rule victories where the Trailblazers scored a combined 23 runs. Utah Tech prevailed in game one with a 10-0 victory where the Trailblazers scored seven runs in the second inning. Sauren Garton pitched five shutout innings to earn the win in the pitching circle. Game two saw even more Trailblazer runs as Utah Tech locked the series win with a 13-5 victory. Kinley Pappas and this week’s WAC Player of the Week, Kennedy Embrey, each hit a grand slam, with Pappas’ slam being the game two walk-off winner.
 
WAC IN THE NCAA STATISTICAL RANKINGS
Utah Tech’s Kinley Pappas currently leads the WAC in batting average with a .486 season average, the 18th best in the nation, and her 15 doubles are tied for the second most in DI softball. CBU’s Kenzie Farrier-Pilon sits right behind Pappas, as the Lancer has notched 14 doubles this season, tied for the eighth-most. CBU’s Matti Severns ranks fourth in the country in total stolen bases with 26 so far this season. Miranda De Nava ranks sixth in the nation in innings pitched (128.0) and ninth in both pitching appearances (27) and shutouts (9).