D1Softball Weekly Awards: Daly, Lopez and Crandall
Top StoriesPlayer of the Week: Kara Daly, Missouri
There were surely players who posted more gaudy statistics over the weekend, but few came through in the clutch with as much signficance as Daly. The Missouri sophomore hit back-to-back walk-off home runs in the final two games against Arkansas to lead the Tigers to the series win. Both homers were solo shots and both were against Arkansas All-American ace Chenise Delce. The first came in the bottom of the 8th inning of a 4-3 win on Saturday and the second in the bottom of the 7th in a 7-6 victory on Sunday. Over the two games, Daly was 3 for 6 with two home runs, three runs scored, a double and two RBI.
Pitcher of the Week: Mariah Lopez, Utah
Lopez was lights out in a series sweep over Oregon. She threw two complete games, allowing one earned run and throwing the first seven-inning no-hitter by a Utah pitcher since 2012. In the series opener, Lopez gave up four hits with seven strikeouts and no walks in a 3-1 win. In her no-hitter on Sunday, she retired 15 of the 16 batters she faced with six strikeouts, including striking out the side in the seventh.
Freshman of the Week: RyLee Crandall, Baylor
Crandall was instrumental in helping the Bears secure an important sweep of Texas to close out the regular season despite not having ace Dari Orme in the circle. Crandall threw two complete-game five-hitters to bookend the series. In Friday’s 9-1 five-inning win, the rookie had two strikeouts and two walks. In the series finale, she had three strikeouts and no walks as Baylor rallied for a 2-1 walk-off victory in the seventh. Crandall’s win was her team-leading 15th of the season. For the series, Crandall gave up three runs and 12 hits while striking out six and walking three in 13.0 IP.