LOUISVILLE, Ky. – UCLA’s Megan Grant and Tennessee’s Karlyn Pickens were named Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for contests played April 1-6. It marked the second straight nod for Pickens.
Over a four-game stretch, Grant batted .727 (8-for-11) with two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI and four runs scored. She recorded two hits in each contest, slugged 1.455 and reached base at a .769 clip. Grant homered twice, including a run-rule walk-off grand slam, and drove in a career-high seven runs versus then-No. 21 Ohio State. It was her third career multi-homer and four career grand slam. She added two doubles, two RBI in a win over UC San Diego.
Pickens shut out then-No. 17 Mississippi State twice, striking out 10 batters and limiting the Bulldogs to just six base runners over 10 innings. She opened with a four-hit shutout (6 K, 0 BB) and closed out the series with a one-hitter, fanning four and walking one. Pickens now has five shutouts on the season as she moved to 15-4 and lowered her ERA to 0.94.
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
Kailyn Bearpaw, North Texas - .636, 2 2B, HR, 4 R, 7 RBI, 1.091 SLG; Samantha Bond, Nebraska - .625, 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 7 R, 1.875 SLG, tied program record with three home runs in game; Kenzie Brown, Arizona State – 2-1, 1.94 ERA, 0.94 WHIP, 38 K; NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech – 3-0, 0.41 ERA, 22 K, 3 BB, 17 IP, .123 Opp BA; KK Dement, Texas A&M - .600, 6 H, 2 HR, 2B, 10 RBI, BB; Tori Edwards, LSU - .500, 6 H, 3 R, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1.083 SLG; Gabbie Garcia, Oklahoma - .800, 8 H, 4 2 B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 1.200 SLG; Anna Holloway, Notre Dame - .538, 2 2B, HR, 8 RBI, 1.000 SLG; Teagan Kavan, Texas – 2-0, SV, 1.02 ERA, 26 K, 0 BB, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, .143 opp. BA, 13.2 IP, no hitter vs. Missouri; 1-0, 6 IP, 4 H, SHO, 7 K, BB at Georgia; Emma Lemley, Virginia Tech – 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 13 K, SHO; Stefini Ma’ake, Oregon - .500, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.400 SLG; Abby Mallo, Saint Louis - .600, 2B, 3 HR (grand slam), 10 RBI, 1.600 SLG; Ella McDowell, Arkansas - .769, 10 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 1.154 SLG, .786 OBP; Cori McMillan, Virginia Tech - .615, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 8 H, .688 OBP, 1.077 SLG; Elise Sokolsky, Oregon – 3-0, 0.51 ERA, 14 K, 13.2 IP; Taylor Tinsley, UCLA – 2-0, 1.17 ERA, 16 K, 2 BB, 12 IP, SHO; Lily West, Creighton - .429, 2 HR, 5 R, 12 RBI.
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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