Butler’s Ricketts, Villanova’s Rauch Earn Final #BIGEASTsb Weekly Awards
NEW YORK – The final BIG EAST Softball weekly awards have been secured by Butler freshman Karli Ricketts and Villanova sophomore Paige Rauch. Ricketts collects her first Pitcher of the Week honor of the season, while Rauch takes home her second. The Bulldogs split at home against the regular season conference champion St. John’s, and the Wildcats split with second-place DePaul at home. Both series were cut to just two games due to inclement weather.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Paige Rauch, Villanova, So., P/INF (Windsor, N.Y.)
Rauch went 4-for-4 at the plate in the two games versus DePaul for a batting average of 1.000, which was the best in the league over the weekend. She collected two RBI and scored three runs, while also connecting on a home run in each game and drawing two walks. Rauch’s slugging percentage (2.500) and on base percentage (1.000) also topped the conference. She picked up the lone win in the circle for the Wildcats with an ERA of 1.91.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Karli Ricketts, Butler, Fr., P/INF (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Ricketts was tied at the top of the league with an ERA of 0.00 in her start of Game 2 against St. John’s. The freshman tallied a career-high 13 strikeouts, which was also the most in the BIG EAST this past weekend. She did not allow a run and gave up just one hit in six innings. In the same game, Ricketts went 2-for-3 at the plate with a triple.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Maddie Moore, Butler, So., INF (Noblesville, Ind.)
Moore helped power the Bulldogs’ offense against St. John’s over the weekend. Her batting average and on base percentage of .714 were both second-best in the league. Moore went 5-for-7 at the dish, with a double and also collected two RBI and a run.
Kiara Mills, Creighton, Jr., INF (West Covina, Calif.)
Mills had three extra-base hits in the Bluejays’ series against Seton Hall. She hit a two- and a three-run home run in separate games, leading the team in RBI (5) and slugging percentage (1.111) over the weekend. She finished the season leading the Bluejays in home runs (6) and RBI (16) in conference play.
Skie Villani, Providence, Fr., INF (Sugar Land, Texas)
Villani went 5-for-9 at the plate for a batting average of .556 and .600 on base percentage against Georgetown. She tacked on three RBI and scored three runs for the Friars as they clinched a spot in the BIG EAST Championship during their final game of the regular season.
Madison Morris, St. John’s, Sr., P (Hampton, Va.)
Morris was tied atop the BIG EAST with the lowest ERA (0.00) over the weekend. The senior picked up her 18
th win of the season as the Red Storm split with Butler. She tallied six strikeouts and did not allow a run in seven innings of work.
Chrisa Head, Seton Hall, Sr., P/UT (Lewisville, Texas)
Head was the only pitcher over the weekend to record two wins in the circle. In the Pirates’ first game against Creighton she worked 4.1 innings of relief without allowing a run and only giving up one hit. She finished with an ERA of 3.09 and registered eight strikeouts in 11.1 innings overall. Head also recorded a hit in all three games at the plate, including a home run.