CSE Performances of the Week | Week 5
Boston U (4-0 on the week)
Photo by Andy Mead via Boston University Athletics
Boston picked up right where they left off after their bye week, delivering an impeccable 4-0 performance at the Beach Chicken Brawl in South Carolina over the weekend. Aces Kasey Ricard and Allison Boaz maintained their dominance, allowing just three runs and a mere 10 hits combined across all four victories. Adding to the pitching showcase, Avery Lizzy contributed 5.1 innings of shutout softball of her own.
Ricard, tabbed as the CSE pre-season #18 pitcher, further solidified her impressive credentials with a flawless 5-inning perfect game against Coastal Carolina, firmly establishing her as a contender for All-American honors this season. Meanwhile, senior Kayla Roncin continued her offensive prowess, tallying eight hits in 14 at-bats over the weekend, elevating her season slash line to an impressive .478/.493/.582.
The Terriers currently lead the Patriot League in numerous key statistical categories, solidifying their case to reside in the top 25 rankings each week.
Tennessee (6-0 on the week)
Photo by Ian Cox via University of Tennessee Athletics
Tennessee wrapped up their week with an impressive 6-0 record, clinching five of those victories with dominating shutouts. Notably, they secured a marquee win against #11 Clemson. Sophomore pitcher Karlyn Pickens has been an undeniable force this season, boasting a remarkable record of holding opponents to a mere .128 batting average while striking out an impressive 88 batters over 64.1 innings pitched. She currently ranks 7th among NCAA pitchers in ERA, boasting an astounding 0.65 ERA with at least 50 innings pitched. Pickens showcased her prowess over the past week, pitching a total of 26.1 innings and conceding only eight hits while striking out 34 opposing hitters.
On the offensive front, newcomer Laura Mealer made history, achieving a milestone not seen among Lady Vol hitters in over a decade. Mealer smashed three home runs in a single game, tying a program record, during Tennessee’s commanding 16-0 victory against Missouri State, contributing to an outstanding tally of 10 runs batted in over the course of her exceptional week. Senior standout Kiki Milloy continues to impress, currently holding a seven-game multi-hit hitting streak and amassing 13 hits in 22 attempts over the past week. With a remarkable .441/.542/.897 slash line, Milloy leads the team in offensive performance.
Honorable Mentions
LSU (3-0 on the week)-
This weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, LSU arrived undefeated and left the same way, maintaining their perfect record. Facing off against #23 Kentucky, the Tigers showcased their dominance by securing victories in all three games: 6-2, 4-3, and 8-3. Notably, Kentucky never managed to take the lead throughout the series.
Sydney Berzon, boasting an 8-0 record, delivered a stellar performance on Friday night, pitching a complete 7-inning game and allowing only 2 runs. In Sunday’s series finale, Berzon once again proved her prowess by pitching 3.1 innings, conceding just 1 run, and ultimately clinching the win for LSU.
Throughout the weekend, the LSU offense demonstrated remarkable balance, with contributions in both runs and hits coming the whole lineup.
Oregon (2-1 on the week)-
In Eugene, the Ducks kicked off Pac-12 conference action with a bang, clinching two victories out of three against the formidable #15 Cal team. Despite a setback with an 11-5 loss on Friday evening, Oregon rallied back with an impressive 4-3 win in extra innings during game two of the doubleheader. The Ducks sealed the series with a solid 5-2 triumph over the Golden Bears on Saturday.
Vallery Wong emerged as the hero for the Ducks, delivering a clutch walk-off single in the 9th inning. Heading into the weekend, Cal boasted an impressive 20-2 record, making them one of the nation’s top teams. However, Oregon’s pitching staff showcased their prowess by limiting Cal, who ranked 34th in scoring nationwide with an average of 6.36 runs per game, to just 7 runs combined in the last two games of the series.
Texas State (3-0 on the week)-
Texas State, currently standing at 20-6, welcomed Penn State to their home field for a thrilling three-game series. The Bobcats displayed dominance by claiming victory in all three matchups, with Ciara Trahan’s dramatic 8th-inning walk-off in Game 2 stealing the spotlight.
Impressively, Texas State’s defense stifled the Penn State offense, which typically averages 4.38 runs per game, holding them to just three runs throughout the entire series.
Pitcher Jess Mullins emerged as a standout performer, delivering two complete games and securing two victories while allowing only one earned run, seven hits, and tallying 10 strikeouts.
With this impressive performance, Texas State extends their winning streak to six games and has now secured victory in 10 of their last 12 matchups.
