March 31, 2008

Player of the Week

Angelena Mexicano, Illinois
Sr., SS, San Jose, Calif. / Mt. Pleasant

Mexicano takes home her second career weekly award and the first of the season after her performance in four games last week.  The San Jose, Calif., native hit for a .692 average (9-for-13) and had a slugging percentage of 1.385 for the week with two home runs, three doubles, seven RBI and scoring at least two runs in each contest.  To open a doubleheader against Illinois-Chicago on March 25, Mexicano hit a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and three RBI in a 17-3 win.  In Game 2, she went 2-for-2, with a double, drawing three walks and adding another RBI to aid the Illini to another win, 11-2.  To open up the Big Ten schedule on Sunday against Ohio State, Mexicano had a home run as her only hit in three at-bats, walking once and notching two RBI in Game 1 of the double dip, en route to a 4-3 win.  In Game 2, the senior was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and scored two runs in an Illini loss.  

Last ILL Player of the Week: Lana Armstrong (3/26/07)

Pitcher of the Week

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

Delaney earns her fourth career weekly honor after earning all four of Northwestern's wins over the weekend.  The sophomore compiled a 1.02 ERA with 31 strikeouts, walking only two in 20.2 innings of work.  Delaney also hurled her third no-hitter of the year against Wisconsin to open the Big Ten season, striking out eight batters in the 10-0 win.  In the second game against the Badgers, the Jefferson City, Mo., native pitched all seven innings, striking out nine batters and giving up just three runs to aid the Wildcats to a 4-3 victory.  On Sunday against Minnesota, Delaney pitched another seven innings in the second game of the double-header striking out 11 batters, while giving up five hits and not a single earned run as NU came out on top, 5-2.  In the weekend finale, Delaney came into the game with the Wildcats trailing the Golden Gophers, 8-7.  She struck out three in 1.2 innings of work to earn the come-from-behind win for NU, 17-8.
 
Last NU Pitcher of the Week: Lauren Delaney (4/30/07)