D1Softball’s Weekly Awards: Basinger, Cagle, Berzon
Top StoriesPitcher of the Week: Reese Basinger, Winthrop
Basinger went 3-0, including a perfect game, with a 0.67 ERA, 42 strikeouts and just one walk in 21 innings pitched. The sophomore began the week by throwing a seven-inning perfect game in a 6-0 win over South Carolina State. Basinger struck out 13 batters, which began a run of three straight double-digit strikeout games. She struck out a career-high 16 batters and followed with 13 more strikeouts in a pair of 2-1 complete-game wins over Radford. Basinger has struck out at least 10 batters eight times this season. Her perfect game was the first in Winthrop history since Kelli Johnson threw one in 2004.
Player of the Week: Valerie Cagle, Clemson
Cagle did her damage in the circle and at the plate to help Clemson sweep Georgia Tech and extend its winning streak to 18 straight games. The redshirt junior was 4 for 7 with three home runs, three walks and five RBI at the plate in three games. In the circle, she threw 9.0 innings, allowing only three hits and one run while striking out 13. In the series finale, Cagle threw an immaculate inning, striking out all three batters on just nine pitches.
Freshman of the Week: Sydney Berzon, LSU
Berzon threw back-to-back complete games to help the Tigers rally and win the road series against Ole Miss. Berzon tossed a three-hit shoutout with a career-high 10 strikeouts and two walks on Saturday in a 2-0 win. On Sunday, Berzon allowed one run on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk in a 3-1 series-clinching victory. The rookie is 9-2 with a 1.49 ERA, 65 strikeouts and 16 walks in 70.2 IP this season.