LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Texas Lutheran’s Serena Gonzalez and Randolph-Macon’s Gracie Ellis claimed the latest 2023 Division III Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors on Tuesday.
Gonzalez, a freshman infielder from Corpus Christi, Texas, hit .714 for the week (5-for-7) with two home runs, a double, four walks and eight runs batted in. She hit a grand slam in the No. 3 Bulldogs’ series finale with Southwestern, and, at eight homers, is just one away from matching Haley Padilla’s freshman school record with 12 regular-season games remaining.
Sophomore Ellis, an All-American last season for the ninth-ranked Yellow Jackets, continued her dominance in the circle with a two-hitter in the first game of a doubleheader sweep of then-No. 6 Virginia Wesleyan (62 of 98 pitches for strikes). She followed that up with her third career no-hitter (eight strikeouts, one walk) three days later at Mary Washington.
Other Top Performances
Marissa Berghorn, Nazareth – .615, 4 R, 3 2B, .643 OPB, .846 SLG; Mackenzie Briggs, Emmanuel – 2-0, 1.52 ERA, 12 K, tossed second perfect game (nine strikeouts) in school history; Kennedy Carruth, Belhaven – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 CG, 10 K; Emily Daciw, Nazareth – 3-0, 1.24 ERA, 2 CG, SHO, 22 K; Amelia DeRosa, Springfield – .715 (15-for-21), 10 R, 5 2B, 2 3B, HR, first player in school history to hit for the cycle; Taylor Dicranian, Russell Sage – .520, .800 SLG, 13 H, 4 2B, HR, plus 3 CG in circle; Gina Followell, Concordia (Wis.) – 2-0, SV 23 K, one-hitter and two-hitter in her two starts; Bella Gasbarro, Worcester State – .533, 6 R, 2B, 2 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 1.067 SLG; Katelyn Halbach, Bethany Lutheran – .750, 6 R, 4 SB, 2 RBI; Blair Hall, Berry – one-hitter (six strikeouts) versus then-No. 13 Birmingham-Southern; Sarah Harker, Manhattanville – .800, 4 R, 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB; Tori Heaphy, Eastern Connecticut State – .750 (6-for-8), 3 R, 4 2B, HR, 3 RBI; Brooke Hock, Wisconsin-Whitewater – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 H, 11 K; Rachel Kazmirski, Marietta – .545, 7 R, 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Piper Kinney, Simmons – 2-0, 1/17 ERA, 12 IP, 5 H, 16 K; Taylor Koehler, Wisconsin-Whitewater – .550, 3 R, 3 2B, 7 RBI; Abigail Koziol, Worcester (Mass.) – .600, 4 R, 2B, HR, 6 RBI; .867 SLG; Caroline Langmeyer, MIT – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 H, 13 K; Nina Mardjetko, Illinois Wesleyan – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, SV, 0.50 opp BA, one-hitter versus Wheaton; Angelina Mayers, Bowdoin – .600, 5 R, 3 HR, 6 RBI; Alex McHugh, Misericordia – 2-0, 0.58 ERA, 1 ER, 12 K; Shannon McMahon, Simmons – .455, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 4 RBI; 1.091 SLG, 1.553 OPS; Jocelyn McNany, Penn State-Behrend – .900 (9-for-10), 7 R, 3 2B, 3B, 6 RBI; Madison Moore, Illinois Wesleyan – .500, 3 R, 2B, RBI, 3 SB; Kaija Mork, Pacific Lutheran – 5-for-5, 4 R, 2 2B, 3B, 5 RBI; Molly O’Brien, Drew – .714, 11 R, 2 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 SB; Ab’c’de Patane, Massachusetts Maritime –.833 (5-for-6), 2 R, 3 RBI; Moira O’Reilly, Babson – 3-0, 0.88 ERA, 20 IP, 40 K (including 19 in one-hitter versus Smith); Ellie Peterson, Saint Benedict – 2-0, 1.08 ERA, 13 IP, 7 H, 13 K; no-hitter (seven strikeouts) against Augsburg; Lindsay Roman, SUNY New Paltz – 2-1, 0.63 ERA, 2 CG, 2 ER, first perfect game in school history; Naomi Sadler, Randolph-Macon – .461, 4 R, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, 8 SB; Emily Schmuck, Concordia (Texas) – .636, 5 R, 9 RBI; Charli Shinstine, Manhattanville – 1-0, 0.91 ERA, 5 H, 5 K; Peyton Souhrada, Cornell College – .733, 6 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 6 RBI; 1.267 SLG; Gabby Spencer, Saint Benedict – .833, 8 R, 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI; 7 SB, 1.583 SLG, reached base 13 times in 15 PA; Claire Stone, Skidmore – .545, 6 R, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 4 SB; Karley Trine, Trine – .571, 2 R, 8 H, HR, 3 RBI, .929 SLG, 1.000 FLD; Keelie Wells, Plymouth State – .429, 2 2B, 6 RBI; Mya Wells, Alfred – .500, 4 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 K, 2 SB.
Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
2023 Wilson/NFCA Division III National Pitcher of the Week
April 11 — Gracie Ellis, Randolph-Macon, So., RHP, New Kent, Va.
April 4 — Tayah Kelley, Linfield, Sr., RHP, Myrtle Creek, Ore.
March 28 — Kennedy Carruth, Belhaven, Jr., RHP, St. Francisville, La.
March 21 — Angela Sperandeo, Lynchburg, Sr., RHP, Glen Allen, Va.
March 14 — Kendyll Cahill, Mount Union, Fr., RHP, Groveport, Ohio
2023 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week
April 11 — Serena Gonzalez, Texas Lutheran, Fr., INF, Corpus Christi, Texas.
April 4 — Debbie Hill, Trine, Fr., DP, Whiteland, Ind.
March 28 — Allie Gordon, Belhaven, Jr., 3B, Macon, Ga.
March 21 — Sarah Watts, Lynchburg, Fr., 2B, South Boston, Va.
March 14 — Natalia Pilpil, WashU, So., UT, Santa Clarita, Calif.
2023 NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee
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