Photo Courtesy of Big West Conference
Long Beach State senior Karli Sandoval terrorized the basepaths and Cal State Northridge junior Brianna Elder refused entry to practically anyone who dared attempt to take a base, as the duo earned Big West Softball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
Sandoval Reaches Base In All Nine Plate Appearances
Long Beach State senior Karli Sandoval (Riverside, Calif./Riverside Poly HS) reached base on all nine plate appearances in a series sweep of UC Riverside, garnering Big West Softball Field Player of the Week accolades.
Sandoval hit 5-for-5 with three walks and a hit by pitch as the 49ers outscored the Highlanders 30-4 for the series, and improved to 6-0 in Big West play.
The catcher led off with a home run, her fifth of the year, to facilitate an 11-run second inning and an eventual 15-4 victory on Sunday.
Sandoval delivered a game-winning two-run double to lead the 49ers to a 7-0 win in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader. She went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. She opened the series with her first of three extra base hits, another double, and finished that game 2-for-2 with a run scored and a walk.
For the week, Sandoval hit .625 (5-for-8) with four runs scored and three RBI. She went 0-for-3 with a walk in Monday’s 3-1 win at UC Davis, a game that was delayed one day due to rainy weather in northern California.
Others nominated: Sierra Hyland (Cal Poly); Kaitlin Toerner (Cal State Northridge); Kristen Clark (UC Santa Barbara); Leisha Li’ili’i (Hawai‘i)
Elder Tosses Second Shutout Of The Season
Cal State Northridge junior Brianna Elder (Concord, Calif./Concord HS) won twice and helped the Matadors to their first series victory over UC Davis since 2009, securing Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week plaudits.
The right-hander tossed a pair of complete games as the Matadors toppled the Aggies, 5-1 and 4-0, to give Elder wins No. 16 and No. 17 on the year.
Elder scattered five hits and yielded one run in the series opener, walking four and fanning four.
In the rubber game, Elder posted her second shutout of the season as the Aggie bats managed just four hits. Elder also walked two and struck out two.
Elder posted a 0.50 ERA for the week with just one earned run allowed in 14 innings. Her season ERA lowered to 1.89.
Others nominated: Sierra Hyland (Cal Poly); Amanda Hansen (Long Beach State); Shelby Wisdom (UC Santa Barbara) – See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=17645#sthash.R5qGA9T5.dpuf
