Georgia and Florida jockeyed back and forth for the SEC’s top spot after week nine, while LSU and Ole Miss combined for a tight-knit series in Baton Rouge. Oregon showed out against the Wildcats of Arizona on the West coast, outscoring UA 23-2 on the weekend. Oklahoma remained undefeated in Big 12 games; Florida State saw their undefeated conference streak come to an end against Pittsburgh; and Fresno State jumped back into the heavy heat of the Mountain West fray.
Now, for the headlines and highlights of the week…
NEWS
- Louisiana Tech head coach Mark Montgomery earned the 500th win of his career.
- Gardner-Webb freshman Katie Prebble set the Big South Conference’s freshman home run record with her 18th of the season.
- Syracuse head coach Mike Bosch earned the 600th win of his career.
- North Texas head coach Tracey Kee earned the 800th win of her career.
- Towson’s Kendyl Scott set the program’s single-season record for doubles with her 19th of the year.
- With a victory over Kennesaw State on Wednesday, Auburn notched the 800th victory in the program’s history.
- Former Kansas star Tracy Bunge had her #24 jersey retired by the Jayhawks program.
- Florida State’s Sydney Sherrill set the program’s new single-season record for doubles with her 20th of the year.
- Baylor slugger Shelby Friudenberg set the program’s new career record for home runs with the 45th longball of her career.
- Auburn senior pitcher Kaylee Carlson set the Tigers’ career record for pitching wins with the 63rd victory of her career.
- Illinois head coach Tyra Perry earned the 100th victory in her tenure as the Fighting Illini head coach.
- Florida head coach Tim Walton earned the 700th win of his career at the helm of the Gators.
- McNeese State senior catcher Erika Piancastelli set the program’s career hits record and the Southland Conference’s career RBI record.
- Congratulations to the pitchers who recorded no-hitters and perfect games this weekend:
- Miranda Elish, Oregon (vs. Portland State, 7.0 IP, 16 SO, PERFECT GAME)
- Gabbie Plain, Washington (vs. Utah, 5.0 IP, 5 SO, PERFECT GAME)
- Hope Trautwein, North Texas (vs. Mississippi Valley State, 5.0 IP, 10 SO)
- Nicole Newman, Drake (vs. Southern Illinois, 7.0 IP, 17 SO)
WHO’S HOT, WHO’S NOT
HOT: Oregon
After some early-season losses, the Ducks have looked particularly solid in conference play and showed out in a weekend series against Arizona. In the three-game set against the Wildcats, the Ducks offense brought home twenty-three runs, while the stellar, three-headed monster of a pitching staff allowed just two runs, only one of them earned. Two run-rule victories ended the series for Mike White’s club, including a 10-0 win in the series’ final game. The Ducks hit five home runs on the weekend, including two from Gwen Svekis.
NOT: Baylor
Though the Bears added three notches to their win column in the weekend series against Texas Tech, the victories were not without struggles and exposing flaws in the Bears. In each game, the Bears had to pose come-from-behind efforts against the Red Raiders, including two late-inning runs in the series’ middle game. Gia Rodoni pitched well in the series, despite some early struggles in a high-scoring game one, when she allowed four runs on five hits. She finished the weekend with thirty-one strikeouts and two wins in 16.2 innings. If the Bears intend to return to Oklahoma City, they have some serious shoring-up that needs to be done before the postseason
PERFORMANCES OF THE WEEK:
>>> Miranda Elish, Oregon – The Ducks’ pitcher, as one article said earlier this week, is only #2 on the Oregon pitching staff because of the brilliance of Megan Kleist, but Elish herself had some terrific brilliance on display this week, including a perfect game against Portland State in a midweek matchup. After a 16-strikeout performance against PSU, Elish threw a run-rule-shortened thirteen-strikeout shutout against Arizona. She allowed just three hits to the Wildcats and faced just twenty batters in the six-inning game. After throwing one inning with two strikeouts in the final game of the series, Elish finished the week with a line of 14 innings pitched, allowing just three hits and no runs with 31 strikeouts.
>>> Bri Bryant, Campbell – Bryant recorded a .542 batting average on the week, with thirteen hits in twenty-four at-bats. She clubbed three home runs and scored six runs on the week. She added a stolen base to her offensive totals.
