IRVING, Texas – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly softball honors, for the week ending Sunday, March 27.
Player of the Week
Jocelyn Alonso * So. *IF * East Carolina
Alonso batted .545 with a home run, eight RBI, a .571 on-base percentage and slugged 1.091 in a 2-2 week for East Carolina. Alonso hit her first home run as a Pirate and drove in four runs in a 3-for-3 showing to open conference play at Memphis on March 25. Alonso added a pair of hits, including a triple, three RBI and two runs to level the series against the Tigers on March 26. Alonso chipped in an RBI sacrifice fly and scored a run for ECU in the rubber match to take the Memphis series on March 27.
Pitcher of the Week
Gianna Mancha * Sr. *RHP * UCF
Mancha won league top pitcher plaudits for the second straight week after a dominant showing in the circle for No. 23/24 UCF. In a conference sweep at rival South Florida, Mancha logged a 2-0 record with a 1.00 ERA, four walks issued and 19 strikeouts over two complete games. The sweep by the Knights versus the Bulls was the first in program history. South Florida batters hit just .065 against Mancha during the series. Mancha surrendered two runs on two hits and struck out nine in a 5-2 win to open the series on March 25. Mancha helped cap the sweep with a one-hit shutout, walking three with 10 strikeouts on March 27.
Weekly Honor Roll
Kennedy Searcy * So. *UTL * UCF
Batted .571 with two home runs and three runs scored during a UCF sweep of South Florida; smashed solo home runs in games one (March 25) and three (March 27) against All-American pitcher Georgina Corrick and scored a second run in the series finale to close the sweep
Kati Ray Brown * Sr. *C * Houston
Hit an even .400 with three home runs, four RBI and a 1.400 slugging percentage in a 3-1-1 Houston week; went 3-for-3 with two home runs, three RBI and three runs scored in a game two win to level the series at Tulsa (March 26)
Dafne Mercado * Fr. *C * Memphis
Batted .429 with a home run and three RBI and threw out six total base runners (three steal attempts) from behind the plate during Memphis’ series with East Carolina; went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in game two against the Pirates (March 26)
Abby Jones * Jr. * IF * Tulsa
Led The American with a .600 batting average and five runs scored for Tulsa in a series split against Houston; registered three hits, including a home run, and scored four runs in the second game of the series against the Cougars (March 26)
Samantha Pochop * Sr. * RHP * Tulsa
Went 1-0 with a 1.40 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against Houston; spun a three-hitter with four strikeouts to win game one against the Cougars (March 25) and threw all nine innings and struck out eight batters in a tie in the series finale (March 27)