NORFOLK, Va. – Coppin State's
Vanessa Carrizosa was named the MEAC Softball Pitcher of the Week while
Celeste Gonzales received Rookie of the Week honors, it was announced by the league office on Monday afternoon. This is the first time this season that Carrizosa has been recognized by the conference while Gonzales is receiving her second weekly award of the season.
A junior from Moreno Valley, Calif., Carrizosa went 3-0 with a 1.63 earned run average for the week, including a win in relief at Delaware State and a shutout against North Carolina Central. Carrizosa struck out eight batters in 17.2 innings of work against just one walk for the week.
Carrizosa tossed 3.2 shutout innings of relief in Coppin's win at Delaware State on Monday before a complete game victory over NC Central on Saturday where she gave up just four runs. In the opening game of a doubleheader on Sunday, she allowed just five hits in the shutout win.
For the season, Carrizosa is 10-10 with a 3.30 earned run average, striking out 45 batters in 127.1 innings while notching 12 complete games and two shutouts.
Also, from Moreno Valley, Calif., Gonzales went 6-for-15 (.400) at the plate in five games, driving in three runs and scoring seven times. Gonzales had a pair of two-hit games – at Delaware State and Delaware – including a double in each contest. She also stole five bases for the week, including three against the Hornets.
Gonzales has raised her average to .223 while leading the Eagles with 19 runs scored, ten extra-base hits on six doubles, three triples and a home run, as well as 13 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Coppin is currently on a program-record seven-game winning streak in conference play and returns to action on Wednesday, April 26 at 6 pm for a single game at Maryland.
