April 21, 2008

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Nicole Pauly, Northwestern
So., 2B, Palatine, Ill.

Pauly began the week Tuesday against Notre Dame going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. She then produced a double and a homer to score twice and drive in two Friday against Indiana. On Saturday, the sophomore ripped a two-run single versus the Hoosiers before doubling, homering, driving in three and scoring three times in a doubleheader sweep of Purdue on Sunday. She had a .538 batting average and a 1.154 slugging percentage to drive in an NU-best eight runs for the weekend, drawing three walks to reach base at a .625 clip. The Palatine, Ill., native helped the Wildcats to run-rule wins in all four of their Big Ten games on the weekend--the first time NU has done that in school history. This is the first weekly accolade of the season and second of her career.

Last NU Player of the Week: Michelle Batts (4/7/08)

CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK

Brittany Weil, Iowa
Jr., P, Garden Grove, Calif.

Weil did not allow an earned run in 20 innings of work last week. The Garden Grove, Calif., native struck out 28 batters in three appearances. Weil started the weekend by tossing a complete game, one-hit shutout against Wisconsin and struck out a season-high 12 batters. She took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before allowing the lone hit of the contest. Weil struck out at least one batter in six of the seven innings. The junior picked up her second win of the weekend with seven strikeouts against Minnesota in Game 1 of a doubleheader. She also tossed six innings of relief in Iowa's 13-inning marathon against Minnesota in Game 2, striking out nine batters. This is the third weekly honor of the season for Weil and fourth of her career.

Last IOWA Pitcher of the Week: Brittany Weil (4/14/08)

Lauren Delaney, Northwestern
So., P, Jefferson City, Mo.

Delaney went 5-0 on the week, throwing three shutouts with one combined shutout, tossing her fifth no-hitter of the season and striking out 47 in 26.0 innings pitched to earn a 0.54 ERA and an opponents' batting average of .107. Delaney began the week by striking out 13 Irish in a seven-inning one-hit shutout Tuesday before sharing a combined shutout with freshman Jessica Smith in a win Friday over Indiana. Saturday against the Hoosiers, Delaney fired her fifth no-hitter of the season, fanning eight in five innings while allowing just two base runners. Sunday in the first game of a doubleheader against Purdue, Delaney recorded every out but three by strikeout to finish with 12 in a five-inning win before tossing her third shutout of the week with a two-hit effort in Game 2. The Jefferson City, Mo., native now has more than 300 strikeouts on the season, becoming the third pitcher in school history to reach that mark. This is the second weekly accolade of the season for Delaney and fifth of her career.

Last NU Pitcher of the Week: Lauren Delaney (3/31/08)