LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Elon’s Chloe Hatzopoulos and Minnesota’s Autumn Pease captured 2023 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors. In the final recognition of the season, the duo is being recognized for their outstanding performances during the week of May 1-7.
Hatzopoulos’ big weekend against North Carolina A&T lifted the Phoenix into a top-four seed at this week’s Colonial Athletic Association tournament. She batted .778 (7-for-9) with five home runs, 12 RBI and seven runs scored. She slugged an eye-popping 2.444 and reached base at an .800 clip. The sophomore outfielder opened the series with three long balls in three at bats and finished with seven RBI. Hatzopoulos closed out the series sweep with two more homers, three RBI and three runs scored.
Pease, three-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, went 2-0 with two shutouts and 14 strikeouts in a pair of wins over Michigan. The senior hurler did not walk a batter and scattered seven hits, holding the Wolverines to a .146 batting average. The two victories brought Pease’s win streak to 11 straight and leads the Big Ten with 25 wins. She also leads the league with 243 strikeouts. Her wins and punchouts rank fourth and fifth in NCAA Division I.
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
Lauryn Carranco, CSUN –2-0, 1.00 ERA, 11 K, 3 BB, 14 IP, SHO;Kara Daly, Missouri- .375, 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1.50 SLG, .444 OBP versus No. 12 Arkansas;Karlie Davison, Utah- .500, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 1.625 SLG at No. 13 Oregon;Alyssa Kelly, USC Upstate– 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, 12 IP, no-hitter vs. Presbyterian;Ali Kilponen, LSU– 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 7 K, 0BB, 7 IP vs. 11 Georgia;Alexia Lacatena, Kentucky– 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.2 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, K, SHO vs. No. 16 Florida for first series win over Gators since 2011;Denver Lauer, USC Upstate– 1.000, 1.857 SLG, 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI, 7 SB;Lindsay Lopez, Washington– 1-0, SV, 0.00 ERA, H, 2 BB, .048 opp. BA, SHO, CG vs. 6 Stanford;Mariah Lopez, Utah– 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 1 R, 13 K, 3 BB, 14 IP, no-hitter at No. 13 Oregon (6 K);Kelley Lynch, Washington- .500, 2B, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, .900 SLG vs. No. 6 Stanford;Josey Marron, Mississippi State– 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 K, 3 BB, 2 R, 0 ER, .130 opp. BA at 17Auburn; Ali Newland, LSU- .700, 3 2B, 7 H, 3 RBI, 1.000 SLG, .700 OBP, 10 TB, 2-2 SB;Rachel Roupe, Liberty- .500, 2 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI, 1.500 SLG, .533 OBP.
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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