Cal State Fullerton sophomore Kiki Munoz (Orange, CA/El Modena HS) pounded her first two home runs of the season and led the Titans to a series victory over UC Santa Barbara, capturing Big West Softball Player of the Week honors.
The 5-9 catcher hit .364 (4-for-11) with two runs scored and six RBI, slugging an impressive 1.091 thanks to two doubles and two homers. Munoz also walked twice to up her on base percentage to .462 for the week.
After going 1-for-3 in a series-opening 8-6 loss to the Gauchos in game one of Saturday's doubleheader, Munoz asserted herself at the plate with a huge game two performance. Both of her hits were home runs – the second of which was a walkoff two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th of Fullerton's 6-4 victory. She finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI.
Munoz finished out the series with a 1-for-3 effort in CSF's 8-2 triumph on Sunday. She stroked a two-run double to put the game out of reach in a game the Titans never trailed.
Long Beach State junior Michelle Turner (Buena Park, CA/UCLA) earned Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week honors for the fourth time this season as she picked up both wins of Sunday's doubleheader against Cal State Northridge.
The 5-7 right-hander started game one and went the distance in a 3-2 win over the Matadors. She allowed just four hits and two runs, walking one and striking out six. Turner did not surrender a hit over the final two innings, holding the Matadors at bay after LBSU gained the 3-2 lead with two runs in the sixth.
Turner entered in relief of Jennifer Martinez in the sixth inning of game two to help preserve an 8-4 victory for LBSU. With LBSU trailing 4-3, the 49ers scored five runs over the last two innings to capture the lead. Meanwhile, Turner clamped down on the CSUN offense, yielding only one hit and striking out three.
For the week, Turner was 2-0 with a 1.56 ERA. She racked up nine strikeouts and allowed just five hits and one walk. She has been the winning pitcher in 14 of the team's 19 victories this season.