PACWEST SOFTBALL WEEKLY NOTEBOOK
 
IRVINE, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific, Academy of Art and Hawai`i Hilo all moved up in the PacWest standings after each team swept a doubleheader over the weekend.
 
The Vulcans won both of their games against Hawai`i Pacific in order to move up to second place in the PacWest standings. Hawai`i Hilo won the first game 8-0 in five innings and every player in the lineup reached base safely at least once in the game, and Vevesi Liilii went 2 for 2 with three runs in the win.
 
Academy of Art dropped its opening game against Chaminade, but then came back to win the final three games of the series. Lauryn Henderson became the conference leader in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage this season after recording eight hits in the four-game series.
 
Azusa Pacific moved past Biola in the PacWest standings after a doubleheader sweep to move within 3.5 games of first place. In the first game of the series, Kat Ung threw a complete-game shutout that was preserved by Brielle Fraijo’s outfield assist. The centerfielder threw out the tying run at home plate for the final out of the 1-0 victory.
 
This week, Academy of Art concludes its busy trip to the islands with four games against both Hawai’i Pacific and Hawai`i Hilo. The Urban Knights take a three-game winning streak into those two series. Azusa Pacific is currently the hottest team in the conference with a six-game winning streak, and the Cougars will play against the top team in the West Region on Wednesday when they travel to La Jolla for a doubleheader with UCSD.
 
Weekly awards for the week of April 1-7
 
CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Brenna Youngquist, Academy of Art
IF, Sr., 5-9 -- Buena Park, Calif.
Youngquist helped Academy of Art win its final three games in the series against Chaminade. Youngquist went 4 for 10 with 10 RBIs and three runs in those three games. The Senior hit three home runs in the final two games. She wet 2 for 4 with two home runs and five RBIs in the series finale. They were Youngquist’s first three home runs of the season. She is now batting .308 on the season with three home runs and 23 RBIs. This is Youngquist’s second Player of the Week recognition this season.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Kat Ung, Azusa Pacific
P, Jr., 5-2 -- Redondo Beach, Calif.
Ung made one start this week and threw a five-hit shutout against Biola. The junior tossed 116 pitches over seven innings with two strikeouts and one walk as she helped Azusa Pacific to a 1-0 victory over Biola. In the seventh inning, Ung had only allowed two hits in the game, before giving up back-to-back singles to put runners on first and second with one out. After getting a line out to left field, Biola got another single, but Brielle Fraijo threw out the potential tying run at the plate from center field to win the game.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Katie Bettis, Notre Dame de Namur
P, Fr., 5-4 -- Winton, Calif.
Bettis threw a five-hit shutout against Holy Names and went 2 for 6 at the plate in the series as she helped Notre Dame de Namur win its first two games of the season. Bettis scattered five hits with no walks in a complete-game shutout to lead the Argonauts to their first win of the season. She also had two hits in the series to extend her hitting streak to three games. The freshman is now batting .360 in 18 games in the batting lineup.