LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Lubbock Christian’s Kendra Levesque and Pace’s Gisselle Garcia collected the Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors for contests played April 14-20.
Levesque was a menace at the plate last week, batting .857 (13-for-15) with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI. She slugged 1.800 and reached base at a .895 clip. Levesque was 7-for-7 with three long balls in a doubleheader at Western New Mexico. Recording four multi-hit contests, including a pair of games with four, she extended her on-base streak to 17 games. The first baseman registered a hit in 10 consecutive at bats, which tied for 16th in Division II history.
Garcia continued her dominant campaign in the circle for the 17-ranked Setters. In seven appearances last week, she was 6-0 with a save and a 0.20 ERA. Garcia struck out 56, walked nine, scattered eight hits and walked nine in 35 innings of work. The senior hurler twirled three shutouts, including a no-hitter against New Haven on April 18 in which she struck out 10 and walked one. Garcia also fanned double-digit batters against Bentley (11), Assumption (13) and Southern Connecticut State (13).
The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which features two member coaches from each of the NCAA’s eight regions.
Selected Top Performances
Cera Blanchard, UT Tyler – 2-0, 0.53 ERA, 12 K, 1 XBH, .218 opp. BA; Alexa Christenson, Bemidji State - .571, 8 H, 2B, 4 R, set program record for career games played; Jessalyn Gallegos, Colorado Mesa – 2-0, 1.08 ERA, 17 K, BB,13 IP, 2 CG, SHO, .159 opp. BA; Aniston Gano, Valdosta State - .333, 3 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R, 1.333 SLG, BB, HBP; Sydney Long, Wayne State – 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 6 K, BB, 7 IP; Morgan Max, Oklahoma Baptist – 2 app, 2 SV, 0.00 ERA, 8 K, 0 BB, 0 H, 5.1 IP: Lauren Moore, Shepherd - .733, 3 2B, HR, 1.133 SLG, 11 RBI, 2 R; Taylor Nichols, Missouri Southern - .538, 2B, 4 RBI, 1.231 SLG; Ava Paquin Sonoma State – 2-0, 0.00 ERA,5 K, 4 BB, 12.1 IP, no-hitter vs. Cal State Monterey Bay (4 K, BB, 7 IP), retired 28 consecutive batters between two starts; Laci Peskey, Black Hills State – 3-0, 2 CG, SHO, 0.49 ERA, 18 K, 2 BB, 14.1 IP; Mady Ruczynski, Wayne State - .500, 2 2B, 5 RBI; Madelayne Ruffner, Shepherd – 2-0, SV, 0.54 ERA, 27 K, 2 BB, 13 IP; Joni Russell, Hillsdale – 3-0, 0.41 ERA, 19 K, 2 BB, SHO, 17 IP, set G-MAC career record for shutouts (24) and program wins record with 66; JT Smith, UT Tyler - .667, 10 H, .672 OBP, 2 2B, HBP, 3 SB, .933 SLG, 9 R; Avery Tallman, Missouri Southern – 2-0, 0.58 ERA, 10 K, BB, 7 H, 12 IP, SHO; Tatiana Troter, Angelo State - .562, 9 H, 6 R, 5 RBI, 4 2B, 3 HR, 2 BB, 3 SB, .611 OBP, 1.375 SLG; Abigail Weirich, East Stroudsburg - .500, 10 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, .667 OBP, 1.000 SLG, broke single-season (54) and career (146) career RBI records; Greenlee Wells, Oklahoma Baptist - .500, 3 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1.062 SLG, .529 OBP.
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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