PACWEST SOFTBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK

IRVINE, Calif. -- California Baptist moved into first place in the PacWest standings after starting conference play with an 8-0 record as part of an 11-game winning streak.
 
California Baptist threw three no-hitters and five shutouts last week during seven wins. Two of those no-hitters were tossed by PacWest Pitcher of the Week Kellye Springstead, who threw three complete-game shutouts with 24 strikeouts in 15 innings pitched.
 
That wasn’t the only dominant performance in the circle this week in the PacWest as Concordia’s freshman Callie Nunes recorded five wins and two saves in seven outings in one week. She threw a total of 32 innings with 52 strikeouts and just one earned run allowed, bringing her ERA on the season down to 0.45, which ranks in the top 10 in the nation.
 
Concordia went 7-1 on its trip to Hawai`i, which concluded with a pair of 1-run victories over Hawai`i Hilo, who entered the doubleheader undefeated in PacWest play.
 
Biola won all six games last week, including a 4-0 effort in PacWest play. The Eagles now have 23 wins this season, which is tied for the most in the West Region with Chico State. No other team in the region has reached 20 wins yet this year.
 
Biola’s offense was led by Areana Ramos, who had five multi-hit games on the week, including three home runs. The junior had eight RBIs in the doubleheader against Dominican hitting two home runs and a double. Biola is now 10-2 in conference play.
 
A chasm has begun to form in the PacWest standings between the six teams with winning records and the six teams below .500 in conference play. Each of the top six teams have at least 13 wins overall this year, which is more than any single team in the GNAC. Only four teams in the CCAA have reached 13 overall wins this year.
 
Dixie State and California Baptist will both be looking to build on their perfect starts to the 2018 season in Hawai`i this week. On Monday, California Baptist will play a doubleheader against Hawai`i Hilo. The Vulcans were undefeated in PacWest play before taking two 1-run losses to Concordia last week.
 
Thursday’s big matchup will feature Academy of Art and Biola, who are a combined 14-4 in conference play this year. Biola is 13-2 at home this year as it welcomes Academy of Art.
 
On Friday, Dixie State will get its turn at Hawai`i Hilo as the Trailblazers look to build on their perfect 18-0 record so far this year. It will be a four-game series with another doubleheader between the two teams beginning on Saturday.
 
Saturday also features Concordia hosting Academy of Art. Both teams have 14 wins this year behind the standout performances of freshman pitchers. Concordia’s Callie Nunes and Academy of Art’s Brooke Larsen have combined for six PacWest weekly awards this year.
 
Biola will also play at Azusa Pacific on Saturday as the Eagles look to become the West Region teams with the most wins this year. They are currently tied with Chico State, who has a four-game series against UC San Diego beginning on Thursday.
 
Notre Dame de Namur has a big non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday, hosting West Region defending champion Humboldt State for a Wednesday doubleheader. The Argonauts have won three of eight games so far in conference play.
 
Weekly Awards for the week of March 5-11
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Areana Ramos, Biola
UTIL, Jr., 5-6 -- Ontario, Calif.
For the third week in a row, the PacWest Player of the Week is from Biola with Ramos being the third different Eagle to earn the distinction. The junior helped Biola win all six of its games last week, recording multiple hits in five of those games. In the doubleheader against Dominican, Ramos went 4 for 6 with two home runs and eight RBIs. Against Holy Names, the junior hit her sixth home run of the season to give Biola its PacWest-leading 23rd win of the season. Ramos is now batting .380 on the season with 29 runs and 29 RBIs in 28 games.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kellye Springstead, California Baptist
P/1B, Jr., 5-11 -- Honolulu
Springstead made three starts in the span of four days, where she threw three complete-game shutouts and two no-hitters. California Baptist won all three games in just five innings as Springstead allowed only two hits and six walks in 15 innings. She struck out 24 batters in the three wins as she improved to 7-1 on the season. The Lancers are now on an 11-game winning streak with a PacWest-leading 8-0 record going into next week’s trip to Hawai`i. Springstead has a 1.27 ERA in 49.2 innings pitched.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Callie Nunes, Concordia
RHP, Fr., 5-5 -- Modesto, Calif.
Nunes appeared in seven games last week as Eagles went 7-1 on its trip to Hawai`i. They won all six games in which Nunes came in to pitch. The freshman earned five wins and two saves on the trip as she threw 32 innings with just one earned run allowed and 52 strikeouts. Against Hawai`i Pacific, Nunes threw an eight-inning shutout with just two hits allowed and 12 strikeouts to lead Concordia to a 1-0 victory. She also threw a complete game at Hawai`i Hilo with 10 strikeouts for a 2-1 win. She is now 7-1 with four saves and a 0.45 ERA on the season.