COLORADO SPRINGS -- BYU sophomore catcher Jessica Purcell and San Diego State freshman righthander Bailey Micetich have been named Mountain West Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.
“Jessica has been playing really well,” BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. “Particularly she has been an impact player at the plate, starting rallies and driving in runs.”
Purcell, who hails from Walnut, Calif., started the week blasting a bases-clearing single at Utah Valley to give BYU a 2-0 lead over the Wolverines. In the series opener at Utah, she reached base in four of five plate appearances, driving in one run and scoring two as the Cougars defeated the Utes, 11-2.
In game two, Purcell plated a career-best seven RBI off of a grand slam and a three-run homer. Her three-run shot in the first inning gave BYU a 4-0 lead, and her grand slam in the fifth inning assisted BYU in its 15-0 win over Utah. The sophomore finished the week batting .417 over the Cougars' three games. She totaled 10 RBI off of five hits, helping the Cougars extend their win streak to 10 games.
The honors mark's the second time this season Purcell has been named MWC Player of the Week.