LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Virginia Tech’s Michelle Chatfield and Oklahoma State’s Ruby Meylan were named Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week for contests played April 20-26.
Highlighted by a record-breaking performance, Chatfield lifted the 13th-ranked Hokies to a three-game sweep of North Carolina in ACC action. The junior drove in a program-record nine runs and matched another mark with three long balls in game one against the Tar Heels. After an RBI single in the first, Chatfield’s first home run was a second-inning grand slam. She followed with a three-run shot in third and a leadoff homer in the fifth to set the new record. Chatfield also homered in game two. She finished the week with a .583 average, a triple, four home runs, 11 RBI, 1.750 slugging percentage, three walks, .667 on-base percentage and zero strikeouts in 15 plate appearances.
Meylan picked up three wins last week, including a two-hit complete-game shutout at No. 7 Texas. She also went the distance in a pair of Big 12 road wins at Baylor. Meylan was the first pitcher to hold Texas to two hits at home since 2021. She struck out four Longhorns and did not issue a free pass in the victory. Meylan scattered five hits in each out against the Bears, striking out four and three respectively. For the week, she posted a 0.67 ERA with 11 punchouts, three walks, three runs, two earned, and 12 hits in 21 innings of work.
The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee, which features one member coach from each of the NCAA’s 31 conferences.
Selected Top Performances
Payton Burnham, Arkansas – 1-0, 0.64 ERA, 11 IP, 6 K, 2 BB, H, .239 opp. BA, SHO; Alex Cutonilli, Saint Mary’s - .750, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 1.250 SLG; Karlie Davison, Arkansas - .667, 6 H, HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 3 R, 1.769 OPS; Kylie Doherty, Boston University - .462, 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 9 R, 4 BB, .588 OBP, 1.462 SLG; Alex Galligani, USF - .500, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1.062 SLG; Gabbie Garcia, Oklahoma - .556, 5 H, 3 R, 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 2BB; Madi George, Ole Miss - .636, 7 H, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 2B, 3BB, 1.545, set program’s single-season RBI record; Miali Guachino, Oklahoma – 2-0, 0.60 ERA, CG, 11.2 IP, 6 H, ER, 2 BB, 15 K; Alyssa Hasting, Auburn - .400, 4 H, 3 2B, HR, 11 RBI, 1.000 SLG, 3 BB, .538 OBP, career-best seven RBI vs. Ole Miss; Kayden Henry, Texas - .550, .571 OBP, 11 H, 7 R, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB; Grace Hollopeter, Valparaiso - .545, 1.182 SLG, 6 H, 3 R, 8 RBI, 2B, 2 HR; Izzy Jamgotchian, Loyola Marymount - .571, .750 OBP, 2.286 SLG, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 5 BB, became LMU’s all-time RBI (177) & walks leader (123), broke the WCC single-season walks record (45), and set a career-best 19 HR (2nd in program history); Maya Johnson, Belmont - 2-0, 2 CG, 0.50 ERA, 27 K, 5 BB, 9 H, 14 IP; Teagan Kavan, Texas – 4-0, 2.38 ERA, CG, 19 K, , 2 BB, .254 opp. BA; Marissa McCann, Missouri – 1-1, 2.76 ERA, 12 K, CG, SHO, 12.2 IP, perfect game vs. SIUE (11 K); Olivia Miller, Florida – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 3 H, CG, BB, 2 K, 9.2 IP; Addie Osborne, Rutgers - .583, 5 R, 7 H, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI; Madison Pickens, Louisville - .667, 8 R, 10 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI, .706 OBP, 2 SB; Cece Smith, George Washington - .700, 7 H, 1.727 OPS, 3 2B, 7 RBI, BB, R, 2-0, 1.50 ERA, 6 K, 9.1 IP; Katie Stewart, Texas - .412, 7 H, 2 HR (grand slam), 9 RBI, 6 R, 2B, 3 BB, SB; Townsen Thomas, Florida - .556, 5 H, 3 R, grand slam, 5 RBI, .889 SLG, .600 OBP; Brianne Weiss, Notre Dame – 3-0, 0.93 ERA, 21 K, 6 BB, 15 IP, CG, .182 opp. BA.
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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