Despite a rain soaked weekend in Southern California and elsewhere, three players battled through the elements and delivered big time performances as Cal Poly's Melissa Pura was named the Big West Player of the Week, while UC Davis' Alex Holmes and UC Santa Barbara's Krista Cobb were named Big West Co-Pitchers of the Week.
Cal Poly's Pura Shines in Season Opening Tournament
Pura had a stellar start to her senior season at the UCLA hosted Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament. The native of Salinas, Calif., went 6-for-12 (.500) with a homer, six RBI, two runs scored and two doubles over her four games. Her top effort was a three-RBI showing against #25 San Diego State and she also knocked in Cal Poly's lone run against UCLA.
Pura was the lone Mustang to hit safely in each game of the tournament and became the program's all-time RBI leader with a three-run homer in the second game against the Aztecs. She now has knocked in 108 runs in her career.
Others Nominated: Francesca Gonzales, Cal State Fullerton; Jennifer Griffin, Long Beach State; Belinda Paine, UC Davis; Keilani Jennings, UC Santa Barbara; Nicole Matson, Pacific
UCD's Holmes, UCSB's Cobb Share First Pitching Honor of 2009
A sophomore and a freshman shared the first pitching honors of the new season as UC Davis' Alex Holmes and UC Santa Barbara's Krista Cobb collected the weekly accolade.
Holmes, who hails from San Juan Capistrano, Calif., picked up where she left off last season with a pair of wins at the Cathedral City Kickoff. She opened up her season with a two-hit shutout of Liberty, striking out 11 in six innings and walking none. Holmes then shut down James Madison to the tune of two hits, one walk, no runs and 11 more K's in a complete game win.
Cobb's initial appearance in the circle was a two-inning relief stint in which she allowed just one hit, walked one and struck out three. She saved her energy for her first collegiate start the next day, a perfect game performance against Wagner. She added eight strikeouts to her tab during the stellar performance.
Others Nominated: Anna Cahn, Cal Poly; Krystl Heinle, Cal State Fullerton; Brooke Turner, Long Beach State