Malcolm, Messina Honored by NEC
A pair of seniors were honored by the NEC on Monday afternoon.
Seniors Kat Malcolm and Laura Messina of the Central Connecticut softball team were honored by the Northeast Conference for their performances on the diamond this past week. Malcolm was named the NEC Softball Player of the Week and Messina was tabbed the NEC Softball Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday afternoon. The duo helped lead CCSU to a 2-3 record on the week, including a 2-1 victory over Big 10 Conference member Purdue. The Blue Devils are currenlty 11-5 overall on the year.
Malcolm had another impressive week for the Blue Devils en route to defending her NEC Player of the Week crown, posting a .438 average (7-for-16) with two RBI's and five runs scored. The senior went 2-for-3 and scored a run in a 3-2 loss against perennial power South Florida to open the week on Monday. She followed that up as the driving force at the plate behind a 2-1 win over Purdue on Tuesday, going a perfect 3-for-3 and blasted the game winning solo home run in the fifth inning. The senior from Branford, CT posted a hit in four of the five games for the Blue Devils, including two multi-hit games. She currently leads the team on the season in every major offensive statistical category, including average (.396), runs (15), hits (21), home runs (3), RBI's (15) and stolen bases (4).
Messina continued to go the distance for the Blue Devils inside the circle, hurling three complete games in three starts to pick up the NEC Pitcher of the Week award. Messina also launced herself into a tie for the national lead in complete games with nine for the season. Messina started the weekend off going the distance in a close 3-2 loss against South Florida. The senior followed that up with an 11 strikeout performance against Purdue without allowing an earned run against the Boilmakers in the 2-1 victory. Messina closed out her week with a six-inning shutout in an 8-0 win over Yale on Thursday. The Marlton, NJ native struck out 20 over 19 innings, posted a 1.42 ERA, and held opposing batters to a .250 average for the week.
The honors for Malcolm and Messina mark the second time this season in three weeks they have each won the respective awards. Malcolm won the Player of the Week award last week and now has earned that title five times in her career. Messina logs her 14th career Pitcher of the Week award with the honor.
The Blue Devils will return to action on Wednesday with a doubleheader at Stony Brook. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 2 p.m. followed by the second game at approximately 4 p.m.
