LOUISVILLE, Ky. –James Madison’s Kate Gordon and LSU’s Maribeth Gorsuch earned 2020 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors for their outstanding play between Feb. 17-23.
As the Dukes’ leadoff, Gordon hit a whopping .800 (16-for-20), slugged 1.550 and recorded an .826 on-base percentage over six games last week. The senior leftfielder registered at least two hits and scored a run in each of those contests. She went 4-for-4 at North Carolina and then-No. 19 Georgia, doubling, homering and driving in two against the Bulldogs. Gordon also added another long ball, three RBI and two runs scored in a second matchup with Georgia. The Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week is currently hitting .630 and owns a 1.871 OPS through JMU’s first nine games.
Gorsuch entered the LSU record books over the weekend with a masterful performance against Belmont. The senior righty tossed the first seven-inning perfect game in program history on Feb. 24. She fanned 16 batters and was amazingly efficient, throwing a first-pitch strike to all 21 batters she faced. On top of that, Gorsuch added a one-hit shutout in a five-inning win over Louisiana Tech. Against the Lady Techsters, the Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week fanned six and walked just one batter. In her two starts, Gorsuch struck out 22 and walked one over 12 innings, while holding her opposition to a miniscule .027 average.
Selected Top Performances
Megan Faraimo, UCLA– 3-0, 0.71 ERA, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1BB, 36 K, .094 opp. BA, 19.2 IP; Bailey Vick, Kentucky- .750 (15-for-20), 8 R, 3 RBI, 4 SB, hits in 11 straight at bats; Payton Gottshall, Bowling Green– 4-0, 0.71 ERA, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 H, 29 K, 6 BB, .111 opp. BA, 19.1 IP; Abby Sweet, Notre Dame- .500, 10 H, 4 2B, HR, 6 R, 8 RBI, 4-4 SB, .850 SLG; Carrie Eberle, Oklahoma State- 2-0, 2 SHO, 11 K, 14 IP, no-hitter vs UAB; Kelly Lynch, Washington- .333, 3 HR, 4 RBI, .933 SLG; 2 walk-off HRs v Wisconsin and Northwestern; Emily Goodin, Indiana– 3-1, 0.77 ERA, 2 SHO, 35 K, 27.1 IP, no-hitter v Bucknell; Haley Cruse, Oregon- .667, 2 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI, 10 R, .684 OBP, 1.000 SLG, 2 SB; Makena Smith, California- .600 (9-for-15), 2 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, 1.000 FLD (21 C).
Louisville Slugger/NFCA D1 Player of the Week
Feb. 25 – Kate Gordon, James Madison
Feb. 18 – Aaliyah Jordan, UCLA
Feb. 11 – Miranda Elish, Texas
Wilson/NFCA D1 Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 25 – Maribeth Gorsuch, LSU
Feb. 18 – Megan Faraimo, UCLA
Feb. 11 – Brooke Yanez, Oregon
