St. John's and Georgetown Claim #BIGEASTsb Weekly Honors
NEW YORK – With all eight teams in BIG EAST action last week, St. John’s Laura Delgado and Georgetown’s Anna Brooks Pacha garnered BIG EAST Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Laura Delgado, St. John’s, So., UTIL
In a weekend of firsts, Delgado led the Johnnies to their second consecutive BIG EAST series win, powering the Red Storm past Villanova in Friday’s doubleheader. Trailing 2-1 in the top of the fourth, Delgado registered her first-career home run with a solo shot over the left field fence to knot the game at two. Overall, during Friday’s pair of victories the sophomore batted 3-of-6, with four runs, three RBI, two walks and a home run. Despite falling to the Wildcats in Saturday’s finale, Delgado saw a stellar performance at the plate, as the sophomore continued to be a major threat for the Johnnies offensively. The Hesperia, Calif., native went 2-for-3 at bat, recording her first colligate grand slam and second dinger on the weekend, finishing the series batting .556, tallying five hits, five runs and seven RBI.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Anna Brooks Pacha, Georgetown, So.
Leading the Hoyas defensively to a 3-1 week and a series victory over BIG EAST standings leader DePaul, Pacha pitched two complete games. Facing the Blue Demons in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, the sophomore pitched all seven innings allowing seven hits and striking out three batters as Georgetown knocked off DePaul, 8-6, for the first time since April 11, 2015. With the series tied at one heading into Sunday’s contest, Pacha struck out six batters in 8.0 innings of work, closing out the program’s first series victory over DePaul, forcing three straight ground outs in the bottom of the eighth.
Weekly Honor Roll
Kiele Miller, Creighton, Fr., P
Miller recorded 19 strikeouts during 14.2 innings of work and posted a 1.91 ERA, a win, and a save as the Bluejays finished the week 3-1, including 2-1 during BIG EAST play at Butler. The freshman started the week by throwing four innings and striking out six, while allowing only one hit during Creighton’s 10-2 five-inning victory against South Dakota. She later opened the weekend by matching a career-high with 10 strikeouts during five innings of work, before recording her first career save in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader versus Butler.
Noelle Holiday, Georgetown, So., 1B
After registering a pair of doubles and an RBI in a non-conference victory over George Washington, Holiday smashed a two-run homer, her second of the game, in the top of the seventh of the series opener against DePaul to clinch the 8-6 win over the Blue Demons. Over the four game week, the sophomore batted .500, with seven hits, five RBI and two home runs.
Julianne Rurka, Providence, Sr., C/INF
Rurka batted .700 over Providence’s three-game tilt with Seton Hall, with a .900 slugging percentage, three runs and a pair of walks. In the Friars victory to open the series, the senior was a perfect 3-of-3 from the plate with two runs and a walk.
Reganne Camp, Seton Hall, So., P
Camp struck out nine in 13.0 innings of work, posting a 2.69 ERA and a victory to claim the 2-1 series win over Providence. In Saturday’s 3-2 victory over the Friars, the sophomore struck out three batters, pitching in all seven innings.
Nikki Alden, Villanova, Sr., INF
In an action packed week for the Wildcats, Alden letd the attack with 12 hits on 19 at bats, picking up 10 RBI, seven runs, three doubles, two triples and a home run. Facing St. John’s for a three game series, Alden batted .500, with five RBI and two runs on four hits.