LOUISVILLE, Ky. – George Mason’s Nicole Bechtel and Missouri’s Laurin Krings earned 2023 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors. The duo is being recognized for their outstanding performances during the week of April 17-April 23.
Bechtel batted .857 (6-for-7) and reached base in 11 of 12 (.917 OBP) plate appearances over three games last week. She registered a double, two home runs, four walks and did not strike out, while posting a 1.857 slugging percentage. Bechtel recorded three multi-hit games in the three-game series against Dayton, homering in the final two contests and driving in five of her eight runs in game two of the series.
Krings posted a 3-0 mark with two shutouts and did not allow a run over 15 innings of work last week. She fanned 28 batters, held her opponents to a .082 batting average (4 hits) and walked one. Both of Krings’ shutouts came against North Texas, including a no-hitter. In the no-no, the junior hurler struck out a career-high and Mizzou program-record (seven innings) 17 batters. Krings added nine more punchouts in a three-hit shutout to complete the three-game sweep of the Mean Green.
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
Alex Aguilar, Wichita State – 3-0, 0.37 ERA, 8 K, 19 IP, 2 CG, SHO; Sydney Berzon, LSU – 1-1, 0.78 ERA, 11 K, 3 BB, 9 IP; Chenise Delce, Arkansas – 3 app/1 GS, 1-0, SV, 0.62 ERA, 16 K, 2 BB, 11.1 IP, .154 opp. BA; Katie Dreiling, UT Martin - .375, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1.500 SLG, 2.000 OPS, 3-0, 0.64 ERA, 11 IP, 4 K, SHO; Rylin Hedgecock, Arkansas - .500, 6 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 5 R, 2 BB, HBP, .600 OBP, 1.500 SLG; Baylee Klingler, Washington - .545, 6 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R, 1.273 SLG, .750 OBP, walk-off vs. No. 22 Utah; Terra McGowan, Oregon - .750, 6 H, 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 1.375 SLG; Kylie Neel, Louisiana Tech - .538, 7 H, 2 HR, 2 2B, 8 RBI, 5 R, BB; Lauren Nett, Boston University - .643, 2 2B, 5 RBI, .786 SLG; Milaysia Ochoa, Iowa State - .529, 2 2B, HR, 9 H, .824 SLG, .652 OBP, 3 RBI, 6 R; Taylor Pleasants, LSU - .615, 8 H, 2 2B, 4 R, 4 RBI, .643 OBP; Taylor Roby, Louisville - .583, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 4 BB, 1.167 SLG, .688 OBP; Julia Sanchez, Texas A&M-Commerce– 2-1, 0.74 ERA, 19 IP, 13 K, 4 BB, 2 SHO; Morgan Scott, Oregon – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 H, 11 K, 11. 2 IP, SHO; Myka Sutherlin, Cal State Fullerton – 2-0, 0.54 ERA, 5 H, 18 K, 13 IP; Grace Vesco, Saint Francis – 1-1, 1.00 ERA, 21 K, .128 opp. BA, 14 IP; Skylar Wallace, Florida - .667, 6 H, 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R.
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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