WASHINGTON, D.C. – Fifth-year utility player
Cami Newbanks, junior pitcher
Taylor Hochman and freshman infielder
Abby Ulsas of the Saint Louis University softball team have been selected Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week, Pitcher of the Week and co-Rookie of the Week, respectively, for their performances at the WKU Hilltopper Classic Feb. 23-25, the league office announced Tuesday.
Additionally, Newbanks and Ulsas were included on the "Selected Top Performances" list by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.
Newbanks posted a .600 batting average (6-for-10) in five games. She smashed two home runs and led Saint Louis in RBIs (nine), slugging percentage (1.200), on-base percentage (.750), walks (six), OPS (1.950) and runs (seven). Newbanks struck out just once in 17 plate appearances and handled 17 fielding chances without an error.
Through 10 games this season, Newbanks leads the A-10 and ranks among the national leaders in on-base percentage (sixth, .647), batting average (14th, .542), walks per game (29th, 0.90) and slugging percentage (41st, .917). She has a team-high 12 RBIs.
Hochman posted a 3-0 record, a 1.29 ERA and a shutout in three games. She averaged almost a strikeout per inning (13 in 14 innings) and limited opponents to a .224 batting average, yielding just 11 hits in 14 innings.
Hochman is tied for the conference lead with four wins (4-1). She carries a 2.56 ERA, has 24 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings and has limited opponents to a .235 batting average.
Ulsas hit safely in all four games in which she played. As SLU's leadoff batter, she led the Billikens in batting average (11-for-17, .647), hits (11, including a triple and a double), runs (seven) and total bases (14), produced a 1.471 OPS, drove in two runs, was successful in both of her steal attempts, and struck out just once in 17 plate appearances. Ulsas had four hits vs. Detroit Mercy and three hits vs. Eastern Illinois and Western Kentucky.
Ulsas ranks second in the league and 34th nationally in batting average (.500). She leads Saint Louis in hits (16) and is the toughest to strike out in the A-10, fanning just once in 33 plate appearances.
The Billikens are 6-4 on the season after going 3-2 at the Hilltopper Classic. They travel to Clarksville, Tenn., for Austin Peay's Governors Classic Friday-Sunday, March 1-3. SLU will face Austin Peay twice and play single games vs. Indiana State, Ohio and IUPUI.
