LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Minnesota’s Jess Oakland and Auburn’s Maddie Penta were named 2024 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo is being recognized for their outstanding performances for contests played Feb. 26-March 3.
Oakland batted .600 with all six hits, including five home runs, going for extra bases, helping the Gophers to a 3-1 showing at the Queen City Classic hosted by Charlotte. She drove in 11 runs, scored 10 times, slugged 2.200 and drew five walks, which contributed to her .733 on-base percentage. Oakland opened the tournament with consecutive two-homer games against Fordham, knocking in five and four runs respectively. The sophomore also scored four runs in game two and three more in the opener. Oakland added her fifth long ball of the tournament with a double, two RBI and three runs scored on Sunday against the host 49ers.
Penta twirled three shutouts, including a perfect game, and struck out 34 batters over 19 innings of work last week. The senior hurler allowed just six hits, walked one and held the opposition to a .098 batting average. Penta’s perfecto came in a six-inning outing in which she fanned 13 of the 18 Panthers she retired. Penta added a four-hit, 10-strikeout shutout of then-RV Northwestern and a two-hit blanking (11 K) of North Texas in six innings. She has now fanned at least 10 batters in her last five appearances and recorded four straight shutouts.
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
Leighann Goode, Texas - 5 GP/5 GS, .563 avg., .563 OBP, .813 SLG, 8 RBI, 13 TB, 1 HR, 1 2B, 9 H, 4 R, 1 SB; Ally Jones, Villanova - 4 GP/4 GS, .600 avg., 6 H, 10 AB, 6 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 12 TB, 1.200 SLG, 3 BB, .692 OBP; Micaela Wark, Oklahoma State - 4 GP/4 GS, .714 avg, 5 hits, 3 HR, 5 RBI with 14 total bases. OBP: .818 and SLG at 2.000: Haley Denning, Utah - 4 GP/4 GS, .625 avg, 10 hits, 1 RBI, 7 R, .625 SLG; Angelina Allen, Iowa State - 4 GP/4 GS, .684 avg., 4 2B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1.526 SLG; Sydney Berzon, LSU - 4 App/ 2 GS, 2-0, 2 saves, 2 CG, 0.93 ERA, 17 Ks, 0 BB, 15.0 IP; NiJaree Canady, Stanford - 2app/2GS, 2-0, 0.44 ERA, 16 IP, 34 Ks, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB; Staci Chambers, Cal State Fullerton - 4 App/2 GS, 18.0 IP, 17 K, 0 BB; Allie Floyd, Louisiana Tech - 5 App./2 GS, 1-1, 2 SV, SHO, 0.79 ERA, 8 SO, 0 BB, 17.2 IP; Riley Flynn, Harvard– 2-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, .108 opp. BA, 8 K; Morgan Hess, Delaware – 2 APP, R, 5 H, 13 K, 0.75 ERA, 9.1 IP; Teagan Kavan, Texas - 2 App/2 GS, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 13 SO, 2 BB, 10 IP, 1 CG, 1 SO, .121 B/Avg. 0 R, 0 ER, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 0 HBP; Olivia Lackie, South Alabama - 3 App/2 GS, 1.24 ERA, 12 SO, 1 SHO, 17 IP, .119 Opp BA; Sarah Ladd, Utah - 2 App/2GS, 1-0, 1.75 ERA, 2 BB, 9 SO, 12 IP, perfect game (5 K) vs. Utah Tech; Jessica Mullins, Texas State - 3 app/3 GS, 2-1, 0.64 ERA, perfect game (8 K) vs. UTEP; Kaitlyn Terry, UCLA - 4 App/2 GS, 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 22 SO, 3 BB, 16.2 IP; Alanna Thiede, UNLV - 3 app/3 GS, 3-0, 1.20 ERA, 12 SO, 2 SHO, 4 BB, 15 IP, 2 ER; Alyssa Zabala, Louisville - 4 APP/1GS, 3-0, 1.19 ERA, 16 K, 4 BB, 17.2 IP.
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
