LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Auburn’s Bri Ellis and Arkansas’ Chenise Delce 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. 20-26. It marked the second honor for the Razorback hurler.
Leading the the 19th-ranked Tigers to six wins, including a sweep of the Plainsman Invite, Ellis hit .714 (10-for-14) with seven extra-base hits and a 1.786 slugging percentage. The sophomore registered three doubles, four home runs, 11 RBI and seven runs scored. Ellis also drew four walks and posted a .788 slugging percentage. The Houston, Texas native knocked in a season-high four runs against Brown and added three more RBI versus Merrimack.
Delce went 4-0, including two wins at then-No. 13 Arizona. She recorded a 0.76 ERA, allowing just two runs over 18.1 innings with 25 strikeouts and holding her opposition to a .127 batting average. In the opening matchup against the Wildcats, Delce twirled a complete-game, striking out a season-high 12 batters and holding Arizona hitless for the first five innings and scoreless until the seventh. Her second and third wins of the tournament came in scoreless relief outings of three and 3.1 innings against Drake and Arizona, respectively. The SEC Pitcher of the Week capped off the Razorback Invitational with a two-hit shutout of Drake, fanning six and allowing just two singles.
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
Georgia Clark, LSU - .389, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB; Katelyn Dunckel, Grand Canyon - .636, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, .722 OBP, 1.454 SLG; Taylor Krapf, Minnesota - .692, 5 HR, 8 RBI, 1.486 SLG, 1.000 FLD; Devyn Netz, Arizona - .286, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1.143 SLG, 2 BB; Kaitlyn Morrison, Penn State - .400, 6 H, 3 HR, 2B, 6 RBI, 1.067 SLG, 1.000 FLD; Korbe Otis, Louisville - .615, 3 2B, HR, 6 BB, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1.077 SLG, .750; Autumn Owen, Marshall - .643, 2B, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 2.000 SLG; Taylor Roby, Louisville - .313, 2B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 R, 3 BB, .938 SLG; Stevie Hansen, Oregon – 4-0, 1.27 ERA, 13 K, 4 BB, 22 IP, 3 wins against Florida, Northwestern & Missouri; Kenley Hilleary, Kennesaw State – 1-1, 1.47 ERA, 16 K, 19 IP, 2 CG, .156 opp BA, win at No. 11 Alabama; Alyssa Kelly, USC Upstate – 4-0, 0.26 ERA, 18 K, 3 R, 26.2 IP; Mariah Lopez, Utah – 2-0, SV, 1.40 ERA, 15 K, 2 BB, 15 IP; Aly Rayle, George Mason – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 K, 0 BB; no-hitter vs. Holy Cross (10 K, 0 BB, 5 IP); Sydney Sickels, Illinois – 3-0, 0.61 ERA, 2 ER, 20 K, 4 BB, 23 IP.
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
