Week Four of the Division I season is in the books, and we’ve got you covered with some of the top players and teams that showed up and showed out this week!
* For a recap from the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, California, click here to find it on our partner site, Extra Inning Softball.
Meghan Beaubien, Michigan
> What better place to lead off than with the pitcher who bested a pair of Top 5 teams in the same weekend? Beaubien earned complete-game victories over UCLA and Washington, with the win over the Bruins ending the team’s winning streak that stretched back to the season’s start. Against UCLA, Beaubien allowed just three hits and one run, striking out three. She allowed six hits against Washington, allowing two runs while collecting five strikeouts.
Texas Tech Red Raiders
> There were no surprises in Lubbock this weekend, although the stage was primed and ready for one. Hosting North Texas and UT-Arlington in a small, three-team tournament, the Red Raiders were on high upset alert, but held steady, winning twice against each team. There were runs scored on either side, though the Red Raiders outscored their opponents 31-7, allowing just a single run in three of the four games on the week.
Amber Fiser, Minnesota
> In what was a big week for the Big Ten, Fiser proved her worth as the Gophers’ ace, earning a trio of complete-game victories. A one-hit shutout of Drake started the weekend for the righty, as she mowed down twelve Bulldog batters via strikeout. In a rematch against the Bulldogs, Fiser again dominated, this time striking out thirteen, while allowing three hits and one run. In her weekend finale against James Madison, Fiser again reached double-digits in strikeouts, KO’ing twelve Dukes batters, while allowing five hits and a single, unearned run.
Wisconsin Badgers
> Continuing their red-hot start to the season, the Badgers earned a pair of wins over ranked teams to highlight their 4-1 performance on the weekend. After a loss to Texas – just the Badgers’ second loss of the season – the squad enjoyed a terrific Saturday, rebounding to beat Texas 3-1 before earning a 5-1 win over Arizona State shortly thereafter. The victories are two huge marks on the Badgers’ report card for this season, as their previous top wins had come against then-ranked NC State. Notably, the victory over Texas was a 9-inning pitcher’s duel that saw all four runs between the two teams scored in the ninth inning.
Jessie Harper, Arizona
> The Wildcats as a team probably deserve a mention in this section, after an unheralded 5-0 record that did not include any easy wins or so-called ‘cupcake’ teams. But Harper’s big bat paid dividends for the Wildcats and helped complete the weekend sweep, as she reached base safely in each game and hit five home runs on the weekend, including a walk-off over James Madison to cap the weekend slate. Harper posted a .411 batting average on the weekend, including 2-3 performance against Drake that included two home runs. In the weekend’s final game against JMU, Harper’s walk-off home run more than atoned for an earlier fielding error that allowed a JMU run.
Houston Cougars
> After starting the season 3-3, the Cougars have rebounded to a 16-6 overall record and went 4-1 in their home tournament over the weekend. A low-scoring 2-0 loss to the upstart DePaul Blue Demons was the only blemish on the week’s slate, and looked to be more of a fluke after the Cougars took home an 8-0 run-rule win in the rematch between the two teams. A pair of wins over Texas State – including another run-rule win, this time by a score of 10-0 over the Bobcats – left the Cougars with a low-profile weekend that could pay dividends later in the year when postseason consideration comes into play. Houston’s pitching staff allowed just five runs, while the offense contributed heavily to a 35-5 run differential.
