LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Wichita State’s Addison Barnard and Arkansas’ Chenise Delce were named Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo is being recognized for their outstanding play for the week of April 18-24.
Barnard, who is being honored for the second time this season, recorded a monstrous week at the plate, hitting .667 (8-for-12) with six of those base knocks leaving the yard. Over the four-game stretch, she drove in 15 runs, scored 10 times and slugged 2.250. Barnard homered twice in wins over Kansas (5 RBI) and Memphis (4 RBI, 4 runs). Setting the single-season program records for home runs (26) and RBI (67), the sophomore from Beatrice, Neb. enters the week tops in Division I in both categories.
Delce posted a 2-0 mark with a 0.47 ERA and a save, keying the Razorbacks to their first-ever three-game Southeastern Conference sweep of Florida. The junior hurler fanned 19, walked two and scattered seven hits, zero of which went for extra bases, over 15 innings of work. Delce capped off her stellar weekend with a two-hit shutout of the Gators, striking out eight and not issuing a walk to complete the sweep. She also earned a two-inning save with three punchouts in game two.
The Division I Player & Pitcher of Week awards must be nominated by member head coaches and are voted on by the NFCA's Division I Top 25 Committee, which consists of one head coach representing each of the 32 NCAA DI Conferences.
Selected Top Performances
Caitlin Coker, Boston University - .611, 3 2B, HR (grand slam), BB, 2 HBP, 7 RBI, 5 R, .667 OBP, .944 SLG; Peyton Darnell, USC Upstate - .538, 7 H, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 R, 1.308 SLG; Brooke Johnson DePaul - .571, 8 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI, 1.214 SLG; Olivia Krehbiel, Missouri State - .556, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR (Grand Slam), 2 BB, 5 RBI, 5 R, 1.667 SLG, .636 OBP; Emily Lippe, Kent State - .389, 5 HR, 9 RBI, 1.222 SLG; Taylor Pleasants, LSU - .375, 3 HR, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 6 H, 1.062 SLG; Taylor Sanders, Western Kentucky- .500, 6 H, 3 2B, HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, BB, SB, 1.000 SLG; Cassidy Triska, Fairleigh Dickinson - .875 (7-for-8), 2 HR, SB, 5 RBI, 3 R, 1.625 SLG; Makinzy Herzog, Texas A&M – 2-1, 1.50 ERA, 11 K, .100 opp BA, 9.1 IP vs. No. 2 Alabama; Sierra Lange, George Washington – 3-0, 1.91 ERA, 18 K, 22 IP, .538, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 4 BB, 3 SB, .611 OBP, 1.000 SLG; Erin McDonald, Wichita State – 2-0, 0.62 ERA, 15 K, 4 BB, 2 H, 11.1 IP, no-hitter vs. Memphis (6 K, 5 IP); Jenna Perez, Loyola Marymount – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 31 K, 2 BB, 17 IP, no-hitter vs. Pacific (14 K); Paige Rauch, Villanova – 2-0, 2 SHO, 14 K, BB, 3 H, 0.286 WHIP, no-hitter vs. Providence (4 K), .462, 6 H, 2B, 3 R.
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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