Hawai´i sophomore Leisha Li'ili'i and Cal State Northridge senior Mia Pagano had impressive performances that delivered them Big West Softball Field Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades.
Li'ili'i Crushes Pair Of Home Runs
Sophomore Leisha Li'ili'i (Kane'ohe, O'ahu/Castle HS) led Hawai´i to a 3-0 record at the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament and garnered Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honors.
Li'illi'i posted six hits in eight at bats for a .750 average during the tournament. She blasted two home runs and had nine RBI as the Rainbow Wahine swept Portland State, 7-0 and 8-3, and routed East Carolina by an 8-0 score in six innings.
In the opening game against the Vikings, Li'ili'i went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run to cap UH's scoring. Her two-RBI single opened up a 4-0 lead in the rematch with Portland State.
After another single plated a pair of runs in the first inning of UH's win against East Carolina, Li'ili'i provided the knockout blow with a two-run shot that gave her team a 7-0 advantage. It was the third home run of the inning following Kelly Majam and Kayla Wartner.
For the week, the first baseman slugged 1.500.
Others nominated: Korinne Randazzo (Cal State Northridge); Amy Nunez (UC Davis); Alexis Pickett (UC Riverside); Shelby Wisdom (UC Santa Barbara)
Pagano Wins Historic Game Against No. 9 UCLA
Senior Mia Pagano (Temecula, Calif./Temecula HS) received Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week honors for her work in the circle against UCLA, helping Cal State Northridge to the upset win against the nation's ninth-ranked club.
Pagano won perhaps the most memorable game of her career as she went the distance in the 3-2 victory. She worked around nine hits and three walks, yielding only the two runs and striking out three. Pagano helped the Matadors defeat a ranked opponent and a member of the Pac-12 Conference for the first time since 2007. In addition, the Matadors defeated UCLA for the first time since 1998.
Unfinished for the week, Pagano came back against Cal State Bakersfield in relief Saturday. She entered in the first inning, retired the side and followed up with 6.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) as the Matadors won 4-2. Pagano struck out seven batters and walked just one.
For the week, Pagano tossed 13.1 innings with 10 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA. She has helped the Matadors reach the 10-win mark at the 26-game juncture, which equals their win total from the 2012 season.
Others nominated: Chloe Wurst (Cal Poly); Justine Vela (UC Davis); Ashley Ercolano (UC Riverside); Shelby Wisdom (UC Santa Barbara); Kaia Parnaby (Hawai´i)