LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Wichita State’s Sydney McKinney and Baylor’s Dariana Orme captured 2023 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively. The duo was recognized for their outstanding performances for contests played Feb. 13-19.
Over six games, McKinney batted .765, recording 13 hits with two triples, two home runs, eight runs scored and three stolen bases. She posted a 4-for-4 outing (3 R, 2 RBI, HR) at San Diego and also went 3-for-3 at San Diego State and versus Fairleigh Dickinson. Becoming the first Shocker to record 300 career base hits, McKinney has registered at least one base knock in all 11 contests this season and currently owns a 29-game hitting streak. Additionally, the senior shortstop was perfect defensively, recording 10 putouts and 12 assists without committing an error.
Orme was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA last week, twirling a perfect game against Stephen F. Austin and earning a win in relief against then-No. 1 Oklahoma. The junior righty dazzled against the Lumberjacks, striking out 10 and retiring all 21 batters she faced to record the first seven-inning perfect game in program history. She followed up with four innings of stellar relief against the Sooners, limiting OU’s prolific offense to an unearned run on six hits with two punchouts and zero walks to preserve a 4-3 win over the top-ranked team.
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
Sara Beth Allen , Georgia Tech - .364, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1.182 SLG; Valerie Cagle, Clemson - .529, 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 7 R, 1.294 SLG, .600 OBP; 3-0, 1.29 ERA, 23 K, 4 BB, 16.1 IP; Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas - .533, 8 H, 3 HR, 2B, 2BB 1.200, 5 R; Jordyn Hutchins, Boise State - .296, 8 H, 3 HR (grand slam), 2B, 3B, 7 R, 12 RBI; Lauren Keleher, Boston University - .625, 3B, 3 BB, 6 RBI, 6 R, .684 OBP; Terra McGowan, Oregon - .556, 10 H, 2 HR, 2B, 10 RBI, 9 R, .944 SLG; Kiley Naomi, Oklahoma State - .583, 4 HR, 7 R, 12 RBI, 1.667 SLG; Kylie Neel, Louisiana Tech - .368, 7 H, 2B, 3B, 10 RBI; Jaden Pone, Longwood - .588, 10 H, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2B, .611 OBP; Jordyn VanHook, Arizona State - .643, 9 H, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R, 1.000 FLD; Skylar Wallace, Florida - .625, 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 11 R, 7 BB, 1.438 SLG, .720 OBP, 2.158 OPS; Jordan Woolery, UCLA - .412, 3 2B, HR, 7 RBI, .765 SLG; Sydney Berzon, LSU – 2-0, SV, 0.68 ERA, 9 K, 10.1 IP; NiJaree Canady, Stanford – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2BB, 26 K, 14.1 IP, SHO; Megan Faraimo, UCLA – 4-0, 1.96 ERA, 44 K, 3 BB, 25 IP; Jessie Fontes, UNLV – 2-0, 0.70 ERA, R/ER, 4 H; Stevie Hansen, Oregon – 3-0, 0.78 ERA, 2R/2 ER, 24 K, 2 BB, 10 H, 18 IP; Robyn Herron, Arkansas – 2-0, SHO, 1.20 ERA, 19 K, 4 BB, 11.2 IP 7 H, 2 ER; Elizabeth Hightowwer, Florida – 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 16 K, 5 BB, 15.1 IP; Ali Kilponen, LSU – 1-0, SHO, SV, 1.58 ERA, 11 K, 2 BB, 13.1 IP; Olivia Lackie, South Alabama - 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 24 K, 2 H, BB, 2 no-hitters (back-to-back), .048 opp. BA; Mary Martinez, Louisiana Tech – 3-0, 0.82 ERA; Bailey Parshall, Penn State – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 22 K, 3 BB, 0 R; Autumn Pease, Minnesota – 3-2, 1.22 ERA, 35 K, 6 BB, 28.2 IP; Stephanie Schoonover, Kentucky – 2-0, SV, 0.42 ERA, 34 K, 2 SHO, 16.2 IP, no-hitter vs. North Texas (18 K – UK single-game record).
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
