GNAC Softball Athlete of the Week Report #7

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Emma Lopez, New England College (Sr.)

Senior Emma Lopez dominated GNAC pitching this week to the tune of an otherworldly .579/.619/.895 slash line in a 5-1 week for the Pilgrims. She went 11-for-19 with six doubles, nine RBIs, and seven runs scored, all while not striking out a single time in all of her plate appearances. She sits second in the conference with a .440 batting average this season and is currently riding a 13-game hitting streak.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Piper Kinney, Simmons (Sr.)

Senior Piper Kinney had two complete game conference wins for the Sharks this week, allowing just seven hits in 12 innings of work and one earned run, while striking out 20 with a 0.58 ERA. At the plate, Kinney reached safely in every game, going 4-for-13 on a .308 average with four walks. The senior ranks fourth in the country in total strikeouts up to date this season (112).

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK

Emma Politz, Rivier (Fr.)

Freshman Emma Politz had a career week, going .440 at the plate, with 11 hits (3 doubles) in clutch moments for the Raiders, one double being in the 6th inning of game 2 against Emmanuel bringing in two runs, to take the 8-6 lead. Politz batted four runners in, one being a SAC bunt against New England College. Politz had a .440 obp, a .560 slugging average, and a .947 fielding average on 19 chances, to help the Raiders to a 3-3 week in conference.

WEEKLY HONOR ROLL

Annabelle Jabs, Albertus Magnus - Jabs went 2-1 with a 2.21 ERA and 15 Ks in 12.2 innings. She also reached the 300 career strikeout milestone in win over Dean.

Amelia Ovalles, Albertus Magnus - Ovalles delivered a standout two-way performance, hitting .313 with two home runs—including a two-homer inning—and four RBI while also earning a win in the circle with 11 strikeouts and a 2.03 ERA over 10.1 innings.

Carmen Crockett, Emmanuel - Crockett had 18 strikeouts across three appearances (2-1) on the mound for the Saints, including 10 in a win over Dean.

Abigail Fortin, Lasell - Fortin had 12 strikeouts in a 3-0 week on the mound, posting a 1.59 ERA while going for 9-for-20 at the plate with three RBIs.

Zoe Battersby, Mitchell - Junior Zoe Battersby (West Warwick, R.I.) powered Mitchell’s offense during a four win week, including a strong showing in GNAC play against Rivier University and University of Saint Joseph, batting .500 (11-for-22) with eight runs scored, two doubles, eight RBI, and a .560 on-base percentage. She was especially dominant in conference action, hitting .625 (10-for-16) with eight runs scored and seven RBI across four games. Battersby recorded three multi-hit performances, highlighted by a perfect 4-for-4 outing with three runs scored and three RBI in a comeback win over Rivier. She followed that with a 3-for-3 performance with three runs scored and a double in a decisive victory over Saint Joseph.

Olivia DeCicco, Mitchell - Senior Olivia DeCicco (Haverhill, Mass.) delivered an outstanding all-around performance to lead Mitchell to a four win week, including key GNAC wins over Rivier University and University of Saint Joseph, excelling both at the plate and in the circle. Offensively, she batted .522 (12-for-23) with six runs scored, one home run, 10 RBI, and a .696 slugging percentage. She recorded five multi-hit games, highlighted by a 2-for-3 performance in a one-run GNAC win over Rivier in which she drove in four runs with a home run. She also added a 3-for-4 effort in a conference win over Saint Joseph and consistently produced throughout the week, driving in runs in five of six games. In the circle, DeCicco went 2-1 with three complete games, tossing 21.0 innings while posting a 2.67 ERA. She earned victories against Plymouth State and Saint Joseph, allowing just one earned run in each outing.

Amanda Magro, New England College - Sophomore Amanda Magro accrued 20 strikeouts across 19 innings of work for the Pilgrims, earning three conference victories over Rivier, Elms, and Norwich. Magro had her best performance against Elms on Saturday in which she threw a shutout with just three baserunners allowed and six punch outs. She ended the week with a 3.68 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.

Kate Julian, Regis - Kate Julian delivered a dominant week in the circle, going 2-0 with two complete-game performances across 13.0 innings of work. She allowed just eight hits and two earned runs all week, posting an impressive 1.08 ERA and 0.69 WHIP while holding opponents scoreless in eight of her 13 innings pitched. Julian opened the week with a complete-game victory over Lasell, allowing just two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out three. She followed that up with another stellar outing against Dean, tossing a five-inning complete-game shutout, surrendering just two hits with no walks and three strikeouts. She also added a scoreless inning of relief in the second game of the doubleheader to cap off the weekend.

Olivia Couto, Rivier - Couto lead the Raiders to a 3-3 week, batting a .435 clip, with a .500 obp and a .783 slg percentage. Couto launched two homeruns against New England College and batted 13 runs in on the week on her 10 hits. Couto fielded a .929 clip, with 13 putouts on 14 chances.

Miranda Northrup, Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Northrup went 2-1 in three starts last week, including a pair of complete-game victories in conference play, to help Saint Joseph’s to a strong week in the circle. The sophomore right-hander earned GNAC wins over Regis (7-0) and Colby-Sawyer (9-1), allowing just one run on six hits with 10 strikeouts and three walks across 12.0 conference innings. Overall, Northrup logged 18.0 innings across four appearances, posting a 2.33 ERA with 12 strikeouts while helping stabilize the Monks’ pitching staff during a busy week of action.

Makayla Quintal, Saint Joseph's (Maine) - Quintal paced the Saint Joseph’s offense during a 4-2 week, batting .500 (8-for-16) with seven runs scored, four RBIs, two doubles, two triples, and a home run. She posted a .556 on-base percentage and a 1.063 slugging percentage while recording a hit in five of six games. Quintal was especially productive in conference play, batting .636 (7-for-11) with six runs scored, three extra-base hits, and three RBIs across four GNAC victories over Regis and Colby-Sawyer. Defensively, the sophomore second baseman was flawless, handling 31 chances without an error.

Zoe Soule, Simmons - Soule recorded three straight multi-hit games for the Sharks on a 3-1 week and a perfect fielding percentage patrolling center field, including a diving catch in a win over USJ on Saturday. The sophomore has matched her hit total of all of last season already this season with 37 while sporting a seven game hit streak.

ABOUT THE GREAT NORTHEAST ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 14 member institutions and over 4000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.

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