Stringer and Whittaker Named to NEC Weekly Awards
Paige Stringer was named the NEC Player of the Week on Tuesday. Kaylee Whittaker was named the Co-Pitcher of the Week.
The Blue Devils had four players named as Prime Performers and two major weekly awards were also given out to CCSU. Paige Stringer was named Player of the Week after her monstrous week vs Holy Cross and Saint Peters. Kaylee Whittaker was named the Co-Pitcher of the Week for her performance as a starter and out of the bullpen for The Blue Devils this week.
KC Machado and Ava Cino were named as NEC Prime Performers
PAIGE STRINGER (SR, 3B): Last Week .500 batting average (7-for-14), 1.143 slugging percentage, .533 on-base percentage, 1.676 OPS, 6 runs, 6 RBI, 3 home runs
- Hit a solo shot in the first game against Saint Peter's and launched two home runs, registered four RBI, and crossed home three times in the second game (9-4).
- Stringer went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs in Monday's first game against the Crusaders, a 5-0 victory, before she drove in one run in the final contest of the week, a 2-1 triumph.
- Went 2-for-3 with two runs scored in the first of two wins vs. Holy Cross, a 5-0 decision.
- With a league-best four homers this season, she now ranks first in Central Connecticut history with 29 career home runs.
- .524/1.095/.545 stat line is the best in the NEC.
KAYLEE WHITTAKER (SR, P): Last Week 0.00 ERA, 2-0 record, two appearances (one start), 9.0 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 4 walks, 16 strikeouts, .000 opposing batting average
- Reigning NEC Pitcher of the Year did not allow a single hit on her watch and combined for 9.0 innings of shutout softball in a relief appearance against the Peacocks on Sunday and a start against the Crusaders on Monday.
- Entering Sunday's game with her team facing a 5-3 deficit in the fifth frame, Whittaker tossed two scoreless innings and fanned three batters to set the scene for a come-from-behind victory that was capped by a walk-off home run from Ava Cino.
- The next day vs Holy Cross she fanned 13 with just two walks and Whittaker threw the Blue Devils' first no-hitter since 2003 en route to scoring a 5-0 victory.
- Whittaker, who improved to 3-0 with this weekend's victories, enters the week ranked first in opposing batting average (.120).
- Whittaker is now tied for third all-time in wins with Lorrie Frederick who played from 1999-91, Kaylee presently has 34 wins.
AVA CINO (JR, SS): Last Week .538 batting average (7-for-13), 1.154 slugging percentage, 1.754 OPS, 5 RBI, 2 doubles, 2 home runs
- Drove in three runs, including two on a walk-off home run in the first of two wins vs. Saint Peter's.
- Prime Performer Week 3
KASSANDRA (KC) MACHADO (JR, 1B): Last Week .462 batting average (6-for-13), 1.154 slugging percentage, .600 on-base percentage, 1.754 OPS, 8 RBI, 3 doubles, 2 home runs
- Tied the game with a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to set the scene for a walk-off 7-5 win vs. Saint Peter's
- Scored two runs and secured the doubleheader sweep of Saint Peter's with a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth
- Scored the go-ahead runs on a long ball in the bottom of the first to lead Central Connecticut to a 5-0 win over Holy Cross
The Blue Devils travel to Virginia for five games from March 1st – 3rd. They play a doubleheader at Norfolk State at 12:30 on March 1st.
