BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week
Ava Franz, So., INF, Villanova
Franz kept up her offensive tear with a 7-for-9 (.778) weekend against Providence, hitting a double, triple and two home runs as the Wildcats swept the Friars to secure the two seed in the upcoming BIG EAST Tournament. The sophomore added a team-high six runs and five RBI while contributing a walk and hit by pitch to total a .818 on base percentage. The Pennsylvania native produced her first four-hit performance in Sunday’s 10-4 victory, sending home two RBI on top of two runs scored. From the field, Franz logged five putouts and eight assists with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
BIG EAST Softball Pitcher of the Week
Hope Jenkins, Fr., P, UConn
Rookie right-handed pitcher Hope Jenkins earned her first career no-hitter in Sunday’s 7-0 shutout of St. Peter’s. Jenkins tossed six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to move to 14-4 in her freshman season. To date, the freshman has posted a 7-2 BIG EAST record.
BIG EAST Softball Freshman of the Week
Bella Nigey, Fr., P, DePaul
Freshman right-handed pitcher Bella Nigey went 2-0 in the circle this weekend as DePaul swept (3-0) Georgetown to earn a slot in the 2023 BIG EAST Softball Championship. Across 12 innings pitched, the rookie owned a 1.75 ERA with ten strikeouts while holding the Hoyas to a .233 average. In Saturday’s 5-1 victory, Nigey recorded a career-best six strikeouts.
Honor Roll
Lexi Hastings, So., OF, UConn
Lexi Hastings was perfect at the plate (3-for-3) in the Huskies’ lone game this week. She scored two runs to bolster her team and league-high mark of 48 runs scored this season.
Riley Pool, Jr., C, DePaul
Riley pool went 5-for-10 (.500) from the plate as DePaul took three from Georgetown this weekend. The junior recorded two home-runs and a two-RBI double in Sunday’s 12-4 six-inning series finale to clinch the Blue Demons’ postseason berth.
Ashly Colonnetta, Sr., INF, Seton Hall
Ashly Colonnetta registered a pair of multi-hit games as Seton Hall took two from Butler to conclude the regular season. The senior was essential in Friday’s series-opening victory, producing the clinching walk-off single (W, 2-1) in the bottom of the seventh.
Katie Whittaker, Fr., C/UT, St. John’s
Katie Whittaker owned a .750 average (6-for-8) as St. John’s registered a pair of wins over Creighton to conclude the regular season. The freshman produced three RBI behind two home runs while scoring five runs across the series.
Tess Cites, Jr., OF, Villanova
Tess Cites wet 7-for-9 (.778) from the plate as the Wildcats swept the Friars to wrap the regular season. The junior doubled twice, drove in five runs, and crossed the plate four times while working three walks in her three starts in left field.