Villanova and DePaul Share #BIGEASTsb Weekly Awards
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Nikki Alden, Villanova. Jr., INF
Playing in three games for the Wildcats this weekend, Alden went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBI in the win on Sunday against USF, who had been receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches’ and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls. In Friday’s win against Fort Wayne, Alden was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. Overall, she registered a .625 batting average and a 1.00 slugging percentage.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Missy Zoch, DePaul, Fr.
The rookie paced the Blue Demons to three of their five wins this past weekend. Pitching a combined 21.0 innings against Winthrop and Cleveland State, Zoch finished with a 0.67 ERA. She also collected 25 strikeouts while only allowing one extra-base hit and three walks.
Weekly Honor Roll
Brandyce Sallee, Butler, OF
Sallee hit .538 over five games at the Missouri Tournament. She had seven hits in 13 at-bats, including a double and two RBIs. Butler’s competition in Columbia, Mo., included No. 4 Oregon and No. 24 Missouri.
Dylan Christensen, Dylan Christensen, DePaul, Sr., 1B/OF
Over five games, the senior recorded a .412 batting average and a .647 slugging percentage. She also knocked out seven hits including a double against Cleveland State and a homerun against Winthrop.
Nicole Lundstrom, Providence, Sr., UT
The senior tallied a .438 batting average and a 1.063 slugging percentage over 16 at-bats. She also connected for seven runs, seven hits, five RBI and three homeruns.
Christina Melendez, St. John’s, So., UT
Batting .462, Melendez registered a hit in every game this past weekend, including a pair of multi-hit performances. The California native smashed a two-run homer off the scoreboard against Morehead State on Saturday and finished the weekend with four RBIs and four runs in four games this past weekend to go with a .563 on base mark.
Brette Lawrence, Villanova, Sr., P
The pitcher helped Villanova to a 5-0 victory against USF on Sunday. Dealing a shutout to the Bulls, the senior only gave up two hits. Throughout the weekend Lawrence allowed seven runs (six earned) overall while striking out 18 batters.