Pac-12 announces softball players of the week

SAN FRANCISCO — The Pac-12 Conference office announced the softball weekly honors for play from Apr. 4-10. WASHINGTON senior infielder Kimberlee Souza was named player of the week, OREGON LHP Cheridan Hawkins was tabbed pitcher of the week while WASHINGTON RHP Taran Alvelo was voted freshman of the week.

Souza (Waialua, Hawai’i) helped the No. 12 Huskies to a sweep of No. 20 Arizona State this weekend in Tempe, Ariz. She led the Huskies at the plate going 5-for-9 with seven RBI and three home runs in the series. In the first game, she launched a three-run home run in the first inning while going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. The first baseman, who just recently started playing that position due to an injury, also went yard in the second game before hitting yet another home run in the series finale in the seventh inning with the game tied.

Hawkins (Anderson, Calif.) earned two wins and picked up a save in 13 innings against the Beavers over the weekend. Hawkins improved to 8-0 in her career against Oregon State with wins in the first and third games of the series. She also tossed a scoreless seventh inning, with three strikeouts, to pick up a save in the 4-3 second game. Overall on the weekend, Hawkins allowed just nine hits and one walk in 13 innings with 17 strikeouts. Hawkins has 997 strikeouts in her career. This is Oregon’s 59th all-time weekly accolade.

Alvelo (Carroll, Ohio) helped No. 12 Washington to a weekend sweep over No. 20 Arizona State. The freshman RHP posted eight strikeouts en route to a two-hit gem in the first game. Alvelo (13-5) went the distance to claim her 13th win of the season, allowing just two hits, a two-run home run in the first inning and a single in the seventh. The freshman started the series finale and earned the save after re-entering to pitch the final three outs. Alvelo threw 3.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs. Alvelo and Souza’s honors mark 95 all-time weekly nods for the Washington program.

A player of the week has been selected every week since 1989, with the pitcher of the week honor dating back to 1992. This is the second season of freshman of the week honors.

This week No. 12 Washington hosts California, while Oregon will have a week off from competition before heading to face Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. The Pac-12 Networks full television information can be found here.

Also Nominated:

PLAYER: Katiyana Mauga, ARIZ; Taurie Pogue, CAL; Nikki Udria, ORE; Kylee Perez, UCLA.

PITCHER: Danielle O’Toole, ARIZ; Nisa Ontiveros, CAL; Bev Miller, OSU; Johanna Grauer, UCLA.

FRESHMAN: Tamara Statman, ARIZ.

2016 SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK