BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week
Angela Giampolo, Villanova, Sr., 2B
Giampolo was the BIG EAST weekly leader in a number of offensive categories, including batting average (.714), slugging percentage (1.571), on base percentage (.750) and home runs (two). After the Wildcats’ league series with Creighton was cancelled, Villanova pivoted to a double-header with local foe Saint Joseph’s which VU swept, 7-1 and 8-1. Led by Giampolo, the Wildcats were dominant in both outings as the senior went 5-for-7 from the plate with two home runs, two RBI and a walk. Giampolo’s two homers were her first of the season.
BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Week
Payton Kinney, UConn, Fr., P
Kinney went 4-0 in the circle last week, collecting all three wins over the Butler series sweep. The freshman allowed just one earned run over 19.2 innings of work, which included four innings in a midweek win over Central Connecticut State in which she struck out seven. Kinney struck out 14 in the Butler series, including seven in the complete game victory in Game 1 on Saturday. Kinney’s 21 strikeouts led all BIG EAST pitchers last week, while her .090 opposing batting average listed second. Over the four-game week, she collected a 0.36 ERA, allowing just two extra base hits.
BIG EAST Softball Freshman of the Week
Jana Sanden, UConn, Fr., INF
In a 4-0 week for UConn, Sanden batted .667 both overall and in the BIG EAST series win over Butler, collecting four RBI, two stolen bases and four walks. The rookie added a double and a home run, both coming in the series with the Bulldogs. Sanden’s batting average ranked second among all BIG EAST players last week, while her on-base percentage (.750) tied for the lead with Villanova’s Angelo Giampolo. The rookie’s slugging percentage (1.333) listed third, while her RBI tally was No. 2.
BIG EAST Softball Weekly Honor Roll
Reese Guevarra, UConn, Sr., OF – BIG EAST hits leader last week with eight, including five against league foe Butler; batted .500 against the Bulldogs with two stolen bases and two RBI
Marissa Rizzi, St. John’s, Grad., UTIL/P – batted .500 in a rain-shortened two-game sweep of Providence, including a stolen base and an RBI; added a double against Fordham in a midweek non-conference tilt; finished the week at .444 from the plate
Erin Brown, St. John’s, So., P – tossed a 1-0 shutout victory with four strikeouts against Providence on Saturday; allowed just one extra base hit in the complete game outing
Paige Rauch, Villanova, Sr., P/1B – struck out 12 in 8-1 win over Saint Joseph’s on Saturday; also batted .500 (4-of-8) in two-game sweep of cross-town foe