Whipple, Toriano earn weekly PacWest awards

HPU's Kozy Toriano claims Player of the Week; Dixie State's Brittnie Whipple dominates on the mound

Q UEEN CREEK, AZ - Hawai‘i Pacific sophomore Kozy Toriano (Hilo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Big Island) hit over .800 and Dixie State sophomore Brittnie Whipple (Moab, UT/Grand) claimed a pair of victories as the duo grabbed the latest Pacific West Conference weekly awards.

Pitcher of the Week (March 23-29) - Brittnie Whipple (right) - Dixie State (So., R/R, 5-7, Moab, UT/Grand) - posted a 2-0 mark in four appearances - all in relief...recorded a 0.46 earned run average in 15.1 innings of work...allowed just one earned run while striking out seven...permitted one extra-base hit...opponents hit .230.

Player of the Week (March 23-29) - Kozy Toriano (left) - Hawai‘i Pacific (So., U, R/R, 5-6, Hilo, HI/Kamehameha Schools-Big Island) - produced a phenomenal batting average during the week...hit .800 in four starts, going 8 for 10 with two runs scored, two doubles and three RBI...recorded a 1.000 slugging rate and an .818 on-base average...walked once and recorded a pair of sacrifice bunts...also stole a base.

PacWest Softball Weekly Top 10 Honor Roll

Lindsay Christ (right) - NDNU (Sr., OF, R/R, 5-6, Orting, WA/Summer) - hit .500 in five starts for the Argos...scored three runs...was perfect on stolen base attempts, going 2 for 2...went 8 for 16 with three doubles, a triple and one RBI...walked once...turned in an .813 slugging rate and a .529 on-base average.

Lauren Folta - Dixie State (Fr., P, R/R, 5-5, Erda, UT/Tooele) - recorded a 1-1 week in three starts for the Red Storm...tossed a no-hitter vs. BYU-Hawaii...finished the week with a 1.83 ERA, 14 strikeouts and an opposition batting average of just .214...threw one complete game in three starts...allowed four earned runs in 15.1 innings of action.

Courtney Kessell - Hawai‘i Pacific (Sr., P, R/R, 5-6, Waimanalo, HI/Kailua) - registered a 1-1 record and a 1.05 ERA in two starts...tossed two complete games, including a shutout...struck out 15 in 13.1 innings of work...permitted two earned runs.

Tracy Lubken - Grand Canyon (Jr., OF, L/R, 5-4, Scottsdale, AZ/Horizon) - hit .545 in four starts for the Antelopes...was 6 for 11 with one run, one homer and four RBI...walked twice...recorded an .818 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base rate.

Jessica Palma (left) - Grand Canyon (Jr., P, R/R, 5-3, San Antonio, TX/Luther Burbank) - recorded a 2-0 record in two starts and three appearances during the week...tossed two complete games...allowed two earned runs in 15.2 innings of action...struck out 11...permitted a .208 batting average and produced a 0.89 ERA.

Krystal Plunkett - Hawai‘i Pacific (Sr., SS, R/R, 5-6, Pearl City, HI/Pearl City) - hit .500 in four starts...was 6 for 12 with four runs and three RBI for the week...doubled twice and ripped one home run...produced a .917 slugging rate and a .625 on-base mark...walked four times.

Nicole Riviera - Hawai‘i Pacific (Sr., INF, R/R, 5-3, Hilo, HI/Waiakea) - batted .455 in four starts...was 5 for 11 with a run, two RBI and one walk...posted a .455 slugging rate and a .500 on-base mark.

Aisha Sueda - Hawai‘i Hilo (Fr., IF, R/R, 5-4, Hilo, HI/Hilo) - hit .455 in four starts...was 5 for 11 with a double and three RBI...walked once and reached base once after being hit by a pitch...had a .545 slugging rate and a .538 on-base average.

Tessa Truong (left) - Hawai‘i Hilo (So., OF, R/R, 5-2, Chino, CA/Chino Hills) - batted .500 in four starts, going 7 for 14 with six runs scored...drove in five runs...slugged three homers...walked twice...posted a 1.143 slugging percentage and a .563 on-base rate.

Katresha Veazie - BYU-Hawaii (Sr., P, R/R, 5-10, Erda, UT/Grantsville) - tossed a one-hitter at #18 Dixie State on March 28...posted a 1-0 week in two appearances and one start with one complete game...struck out six and gave up one earned run in eight innings of action...opponents hit .040 while she posted a 0.88 earned run average.