LOUISVILLE, Ky. –UCLA’s Maya Brady and Utah’s Mariah Lopez were named 2023 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo was recognized for their outstanding performances for contests played Feb. 6-12.
Brady matched a 24-year old UCLA record, registering 10 consecutive base hits over the course of three games and finished the week batting .813 (13-for-16) with four home runs, 14 RBI, 13 runs scored and a 1.563 slugging percentage. She went 6-for-6 in two games on Feb. 11 and 4-for-4 with two long balls and five RBI in game one against San Diego on Feb. 12. After one week of play, the Pac-12 Player of the Week leads the NCAA in total bases (25), is tied for first in home runs and is ranked second hits and RBI.
Lopez posted a 3-0 mark with 21 strikeouts, did not issue a walk and scattered five hits in 14.1 innings of work. She struck out eight Stonehill batters and allowed one hit over four innings in her season debut. Lopez fanned another eight batters in 5.1 innings and surrendered two hits in 5.1 innings against Northern Colorado. The junior hurler capped off the week with five more shutout innings with five punchouts against UC San Diego.
The Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee.
Selected Top Performances
Yanni Acuna, Arizona State - .429, 2 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.381 OPS; Valerie Cagle, Clemson - .625, 4 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1.250 SLG; 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 16 K, BB, SHO, 13 IP; Deja Davis, Duke - .471, 8 H, 3 2B, 8 R, BB, .500 OBP; Kristin Fifield, Grand Canyon - .583, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1.33 SLG; JoJo Hyatt, Clemson - .778, 2 2B, R, 8 RBI, SB, .800 OBP; Jayda Kearney, Georgia - .462, 4 HR, 7 R, 10 RBI, .611 OBP, 1.385 SLG, 5 BB; Abigail Knight, Boston College – 5 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R; Lauren Lucas, Wichita State - .647, 11 H, 6 2B, HR, 5 R, 12 RBI, 1.860 OPS; Jess Oakland, Minnesota - .500, 2 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 6 R, 1.125 SLG; Taylor Pleasants, LSU - .533, 8 H, 2B, 4 HR, 9 R, 13 RBI, 3 BB, 1.400 SLG, .650 OBP; Spencer Prigge, Arkansas - .500, 6 H, 3 HR, 9 R, 12 RBI, 5 BB, 1.33 SLG, .647 OBP; Sydney Berzon, LSU – 1-0, SHO, 2 SV, 7.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, .077 opp. BA; Cassidy Curd, Duke – 1-0, SV, 1.29 ERA, 3 APP, 6 H, 7 IP; Emily Darwin, Grand Canyon – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 0 BB, 9 K, 7.2 IP, perfect game vs. Green Bay (7 K, 5 IP); Ali Kilponen, LSU – 2-0, 1.62 ERA, SHO vs. No. 19 Oregon State, 17 K, .152 opp BA; Ruby Meylan, Washington – 2-0, SB, 0.00 ERA, 16 K, 1 BB, SHO, 14 IP; Ashley Peters, North Texas – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 5 H, 9 K, 0 BB, .125 opp. BA; Sydney Sickles, Illinois – Program record 21 strikeouts (9 IP) vs. Fordham; Callie Turner, Arkansas – 2-0, SV, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 9 K, 11 IP, .081 opp. BA, 0 XBH; Courtney Wallace, Nebraska – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 14 K, 4 BB, 0 XBH; .438, 2B, 7 H.
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, 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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NFCA Division I Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week
