Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi of Long Beach State and Sierra Hyland of Cal Poly were the headline players over the weekend, taking home the Big West Field Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively.
Tupua-Tautalatasi Leads 49ers With Bat and Glove
Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi (Oxnard, Calif./Oxnard HS) was on fire at the dish and in the field for Long Beach State last weekend, resulting in Big West Field Player of the Week honors. It’s the first weekly honor for Tupua-Tautalatasi since the first week of her freshman season in 2012.
The junior led the 49ers to a 3-1 record at the San Diego Tournament, hitting .417 (5-12) and posting a 1.000 fielding percentage. Tupua-Tautalatasi started out the tourney with a pair of RBI and a run scored in a 7-6 win over homestanding San Diego.
After scoring two more times in a 6-4 loss to San Jose State, Tupua-Tautalatasi ended the tourney with a bang on the final day. In the first game against the Spartans, she went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a triple in a 9-6 victory. Tupua-Tautalatasi then hit a two-run triple and scored another run against the Toreros in a 3-2 victory. Not only was she responsible for all three runs against USD, but Tupua-Tautalatasi also made a game-ending catch in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.
Others nominated: Melissa Sechrest (Cal State Fullerton); Taylor Glover (Cal State Northridge); Haley Harris (UC Riverside); Kristen Clark (UC Santa Barbara)
Hyland Claims Third Pitcher of the Week Honor
Cal Poly's Sierra Hyland (Visalia, Calif./El Diamante HS) dominated the competition over her 11.0 innings of work last weekend, garnering Big West Pitcher of the Week accolades for the second time this season to go along with a field player honor.
The freshman hurler posted two complete games in as many starts last week at Loyola Marymount, picking up the win in both contests.
Hyland began play with a sensational 7-0 win over Dartmouth, striking out a career-best 15 hitters and scattering two hits and two walks over the seven innings. She then started the second game of the day against the host Lions and allowed no runs, three hits, two walks and struck out four in 4.0 innings.
Hyland currently leads the Big West in wins (15), ERA (1.78), strikeouts (159), complete games (16) and innings pitched (134.0)
Others nominated: Christina Washington (Cal State Fullerton); Daphne Pofek (Cal State Northridge); Amanda Hansen (Long Beach State); Shelby Wisdom (UC Santa Barbara)