LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UConn’s Kaitlyn Breslin and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens were named Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for contests played March 24-30.
Breslin recorded a historical performance in game two of the Huskies BIG EAST series win over Creighton. The sophomore outfielder tied an NCAA single-game record with four home runs and generated a career-best seven RBI and five runs scored in a 22-18 win. After drawing a bases loaded walk in the first innings, Breslin left the yard in the second (solo), third (two-run), fifth (solo) and sixth (two-run). She also launched a three-run homer in game one and scored a pair of runs in the series finale. Over the weekend, Breslin slashed .750/.759/2.625, posting a 3.384 OPS with 11 RBI, eight runs scored and four walks.
Pickens had a spectacular week earning three ranked wins over No. 14 Arkansas, followed by two on the road at No. 2 Oklahoma. The junior flamethrower, who hit a record 78.2 MPH against the Razorbacks on March 24, made three appearances and one start posting a 1.65 ERA with 18 strikeouts and five walks over 17 innings of work. Pickens twirled 4.1 innings of scoreless and hitless relief (6 K, 2 BB) versus Arkansas and made history with a 78.2 MPH pitch in the sixth inning, surpassing Monica Abbott’s mark of 77 MPH achieved in 2012 with the Chicago Bandits (NPF). She earned another win in relief in a game-one extra-inning victory over the Sooners, tossing the final 5.2 innings (6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K) and capped of the series with a complete-game win in the finale (7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 6 K).
The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee, which features one member head coach from each of the NCAA’s 31 conferences.
Selected Top Performances
Jordy Bahl, Nebraska – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, SV, 3 H, 26 K, .070 opp. BA, 22.1 IP; Reis Beuerlein, Arkansas – 3 app/1 GS, 0.00 ERA, 10.1 IP, 10 K, H, 3 BB; Hallie Burns, SELU – No-hitter vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (7 IP, 2 R, 0 ER, 5 K, 2 BB); NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech – 2-0, 00.58 ERA, 26 K, 5 BB, 3 H, 12 IP; Kaelin Cash, Michigan State - .500, 4 HR, 9 RBI, .538 OBP, 1.500 SLG, broke single-game program record with three home runs and 8 RBI vs. Michigan; Ashley Corpuz, George Washington - .600, 6 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.700 SLG, .714 OBP, 0 K; Alexis DeBoer, Washington - .500, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB (IBB), 1.100 SLG, .615 OBP; Emma Grahmann, North Texas - .750, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, .857 OBP, reached base safely in 12 of 14 plate appearances; Maddia Groff, Omaha – 2-1 2.33 ERA, 22 K, 2 BB, 15 IP, perfect game (7 IP, 13 K) and combined perfect game (3 IP, 7 K) vs. North Dakota; Maryanna Guy, Longwood - .462, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 4 R, 1.154 SLG; Kayden Henry, Texas - .571, 2 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 7 R, .4 SB, .571 OBP; Aaliyah Jenkins, Nevada - .455, 5 H, 2 2B, 3 B, HR, 4 RBI, 1.091 SLG, broke Nevada’s career RBI record; Micaela Kastor, Notre Dame – 2-0, 1.54 ERA, 13 K, 13.2 IP, both wins versus No. 24 Virginia; Emiley Kennedy, Texas A&M – 2-0, 0.70 ERA, SHO, 15 K, 4 BB, 5 H, 10 IP, 0 XBH; Kedre Luschar, Oregon – 2 GS, .857, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 4-4 SB, 1.429 SLG; Sefini Ma’ake, Oregon - .667, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1.333 SLG; Hailey McLean, Nevada – 1-1 0.70 ERA, 10 IP, 8 K, 6 H, SHO; Jesiana Mora, FAU - .500, 3 HR, 1 BI, 5 H, 4 R, 1.4000 SLG, 2-2 SLG; Devyn Netz, Arizona – 2-0, SHO, 4 K, 2 BB, perfect game vs. BYU (5 IP, 2 K), 2 HR, 5 RBI, .818 SLG, 4 R; Mya Perez, Texas A&M - .786, 11 H, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 8 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, HBP, 0 K, 1.571 SLG, .824 OBP; Kasidi Pickering, Oklahoma - .889, 2B, HR, 5 R, 5 RBI, 6 BB, set program record for reaching base safely (15 PA); Courtney Poulich, Robert Morris - .500, 8 H, 4 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 13 RBI, 8 R; Kennedy Proctor, Utah - .600, 3 HR, 2B, 3B, 9 RBI, 6 R, 1.800 SLG; Kat Rodriguez, North Carolina - .706, 12 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 8 R, BB, 0 K, .737 OBP, 1.353 SLG; Sydney Stewart, Arizona - .625, 5 H, 2B, HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, .750 OBP; Isabella Vega, UCF – 1-1, 0.41 ERA, SV, 18 K, 5 BB, 10 H, 1 R, 1 ER, shut out No. 4 Florida (7 IP, 5 H, 4 K, BB); Sydney Wells, Fordham - .636, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 4 BB, 10 RBI, 7 R, .733 OBP, 1.636 SLG.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Louisville Slugger/Player & Wilson/Pitcher of the Week awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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