LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Texas A&M’s Julia Cottrill and UCF’s Sarah Willis 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 24-30.
Over four games last week, Cottrill batted .417 with four home runs, 11 RBI and five runs scored. She launched two home runs in each of the 25th-ranked Aggies’ victories over Missouri. Cottrill collected 14 total bases and slugged 1.417. In game one, she drove in four runs en route to a 6-2 win. Cottrell followed with a pair of three-run long balls to clinch the series with an 11-4 triumph. The junior catcher was perfect behind the plate in 15 chances.
Willis tossed the third perfect game in UCF program history, the first-ever seven-inning perfecto. She finished the week, 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and two shutouts in 14 innings. Willis struck out seven, allowed just two hits, walked three and held Houston to a .047 in her two starts. The junior hurler struck out three in her perfect game and followed with a two-hit blanking of the Cougars with four punchouts.
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
Jess Bianco, St. John’s - .778, 2 RBI, 10 SB, 3 BB, .833 OBP; Allison Boaz, Boston University – 3-0, 0.82 ERA, 15 K 2 BB, .123 opp. BA, 17 IP; Allee Bunker, Oregon - .600, 9 H, 2B, HR, 10 RBI, .867 SLG; Lauryn Carranco, CSUN – 2-1, 0.50 ERA, 18 K, BB, 14 IP; Caitlin Coker, Boston University - .615, 3 2B, 3B, 5 RBI, 5 R, SB, BB, 2 HBP, 1.000 SLG, .688 OBP; Kristiana Foreman, Arkansas - .444, .500 OBP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 RBI, HR, BB, SB, .778 SLG; Daisy Hess, Louisville - .833, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SB, 1.167 SLG, .900 OBP; Macy Irelan, Kent State – 5-0, 1.02 ERA, 33 K, 5 BB, .190 opp. BA, 27.1 IP; Leanna Johnson, Troy – 2-0, 2 SHO, 5 H, 14 K, 13 IP; Alexas Landeros, CSUN - .700, 4 RBI, .900 SLG, .700 OBP; Taylor McKinney, Troy - .714, 5 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 1.714 SLG, .800 OBP, 3 BB; Autumn Pease, Minnesota – 3-0, 0.35 ERA, 23 K, 2 BB, 11 H, ER, 20 IP; Jordan Schuring, Idaho State – 2-0, 0.57 ERA, 2 CG, SHO, 7 K, 3 BB, 15.2 IP; Emma Schutter, Dayton - .833, 3 2B, 3B, 5 R, 4 RBI, 2 SB, 1.250 SLG; Kennedy Searcy, UCF - .636, 3 R, 2B, 4 RBI, two three-hit games; Gabby Stagner, South Alabama - .700, 3 2B, HR (grand slam), 12 RBI, 1.300 SLG, BB; Natalie Sullivan, Saint Louis - .625, 5 H, 5 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 1.125 SLG, 5 BB, .714 OBP, 4-4 SB; Myka Sutherlin, Cal State Fullerton – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 2 R, 0 ER, 11 K, 14 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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