CSE Performances of the Week | Week 7
North Texas (3-0 on the week)
Photo via University of North Texas Athletics
In the third installment of AAC play, North Texas continued their impressive play taking down a streaking Tulsa team three times allowing just two runs in the games played. Between Mackenzie Childers and Skylar Savage, the two combined to shut out Tulsa hitters allowing just nine hits over 17 innings pitched while striking out 11. North Texas pitches have held opponents to just a .243 average this year. The Mean green have been led at the plate by Mikayla Smith who went 4/10 at the plate this weekend including a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 7th inning in the second game that secured a 1-0 victory for the home team. She currently leads all hitters on the team with six homeruns and holds a .310/.355/.662 slash line. The Mean Green sit tied at the top of the AAC and will continue to improve on their pre-season 3rd place conference selection.
Notre Dame (4-0 on the week)
Photo via University of Notre Dame Athletics
Notre Dame swept their weekend series against NC State this past weekend and outscored their opponent 16-7 over the three-game set. The Fighting Irish are currently on a 6-game winning streak and are looking to make some noise in the ACC. The former #6 pitcher in the CSE Transfer portal rankings, Alexis Laudenslager, led the way for the Irish throwing 13.2 innings allowing only two earned runs and striking out 16 NC State hitters. She currently owns a .260 opponents average against and is striking out over seven batters per seven innings. Carlli Kloss had an exceptional weekend at the plate reaching base 7/11 times to go along with two extra base hits. Kloss raised her average to .402, owns a .402/.438/.520 slash line, and is a demon on the base paths stealing 10 bags in 12 attempts.
Honorable Mentions
South Dakota State (2-0 on the week)-
This week, the South Dakota State Jackrabbits maintained their winning momentum, going 2-0 with two impressive shutout victories over South Dakota, before inclement weather postponed further play. The Jackrabbits have now strung together a five-game winning streak over the past two weeks, showcasing their dominance on the field.
In the weekend’s opening game, Tori Kniesche delivered a masterclass performance from the circle, throwing a no-hitter with an impressive tally of nine strikeouts and allowing just one walk. This phenomenal achievement marks Kniesche’s second consecutive no-hitter, following a similar feat against Kennesaw State, solidifying her status as a formidable force in the Summit League.
Over the course of these two games against South Dakota, the Jackrabbits outscored the Coyotes with a total score of 15-0, extending their run over the last five games to an overwhelming 40-4 against their opponents. This outstanding team effort underlines SDSU’s prowess and sets the stage for continued success in the Summit League over the coming weeks.
Miami (OH) (4-0 on the week)-
This past week, the Miami Redhawks delivered an outstanding performance, going 4-0 with a victory over Louisville and a three-game sweep against Ohio. This streak has catapulted Miami to the #31 spot in this week’s RPI rankings, showcasing their rising prominence in collegiate softball.
The Redhawks’ offense was in full force, accumulating a total of 31 runs across their four games last week. Notably, the last time Miami failed to score at least 5 runs was on March 9 during a game against Georgia, highlighting their consistent offensive firepower.
Jenna Golembiewski has been a standout player for Miami, boasting an extraordinary season slash line of .500/.564/1.256. Her performance places her at the pinnacle of collegiate softball, leading the nation in RBIs per game with an average of 1.74, as well as topping the charts in slugging percentage, and ranking third in batting average.
Furthermore, the power-hitting duo of Karli Spaid and Golembiewski are dominating the national home runs per game statistics, ranking #1 and #2 with averages of 0.68 and 0.69, respectively. Their exceptional play is a key factor in Miami’s success and positions them as one of the most formidable teams in the nation.
The Redhawks went 4-0 this past week, beating Louisville and a three game sweep of Ohio. Miami has jumped to #31 in this week’s RPI. Miami scored 31 runs in their 4 games last week and the last tie they failed to score 5 was March 9 at Georgia. Jenna Golembiewski is hitting an unreal .500/.564/1.256 on the year. Golembiewski is currently 1st in RBI per game (1.74), 1st in slugging percentage and 3rd in batting average. Karli Spaid and Golembiewski rank #1 and #2 in the nation in home runs per game (0.68 and 0.69).
Lamar (4-0 on the week)-
The Lamar Cardinals have earned a spot on the CSE Performance of the Week for Week 7. This recognition comes on the heels of an impressive week where the Cardinals achieved a clean sweep on the road against Texas A&M Commerce and also snagged a victory over Sam Houston in a midweek game. Their performance led them to finish the week with a +22 run differential.
Lamar’s pitching staff was particularly outstanding, conceding only 4 runs and 14 hits throughout the week. The highlight of their pitching excellence was a 5-inning no-hitter thrown by Karyana Mitchell, who improved her season record to 9-1. Mitchell’s no-hitter serves as a capstone to a week of dominant pitching by the Cardinals, showcasing their strength in their pitching staff.
