IRVINE, Calif. -- Hawai`i Pacific entered the week still looking for its first win of the season, and the Sharks finished the week with a lot more than just their first win.
 
Hawai`i Pacific won three out of four games against each of their Hawai`i Pod rivals to improve to 6-11 on the season after going 6-2 on the week. Cieana Curran was a key part of the Sharks’ success as she went 9 for 21 with four runs, two RBIs, a home run, triple and three walks, while Noel Saunders added 10 hits with three doubles, scoring six times.
 
Dominican clinched at least a share of the NorCal Pod title last week by winning two of four games against Holy Names. Academy of Art now needs to sweep the Penguins in order to get its share of the NorCal Pod title. After narrowly dropping the first two games of the series, the Penguins outscored their opponents 25-3 in the final two games to make sure they clinched at least a share of the title.
 
In the SoCal Pod, Biola is now in control after winning two of four games against Concordia to take a three-game lead in the standings. Paige Austin struck out 16 batters in 11 innings pitched and earned a win for Biola during the series.
 
This week, Concordia will face Azusa Pacific, and the Eagles need to win at least three of four games in order to earn a share of the SoCal Pod title. In the Hawai`i Pod, Chaminade will play four games against Hawai`i Pacific, and the Silverswords need a strong performance to stay in the hunt for the Hawai`i Pod title.
 
Weekly awards for the week of April 19-25
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ruth Munoz, Biola
UT, Jr., 5-7 -- Whittier, Calif.
Munoz had a hit in each game last week as Biola won two of four games against No. 11 Concordia to take a commanding 3-game lead in the SoCal Pod standings. She went 8 for 16 on the week with three RBIs and three runs. She also had a home run and a triple for the Eagles. Munez went 3 for 4 with three RBIs, a home run and two runs scored to lead Biola to the series-opening victory. She also went 3 for 4 in the third game of the series. Munoz raised her batting average on the season to .310 with five RBIs.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Malia Torres, Hawai`i Pacific
RHP, Jr., 5-6 -- Danville, Calif.
Torres won five games last week to help the Sharks go 6-2 during a very busy week. Hawai`i Pacific entered the week looking for its first win of the season, and Torres ended the week helping them to get five. She threw 32.2 innings and only allowed four earned runs with seven strikeouts. Torres threw four complete games and brought her ERA on the season all the way down to 2.54. On Sunday, she threw 10 innings with one earned run allowed and four strikeouts.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Aly Montesino, Azusa Pacific
UT, Fr., 5-6 -- Murrieta, Calif.
Montesino threw an eight-inning two-hit shutout to lead Azusa Pacific to a 3-0 win over No. 11 Concordia. She only allowed three runners on base during the pitching duel that went to extra innings with a scoreless tie, where Montesino continued her dominance until the Cougars put three runs on the board. And all three of those runs, were scored on a three-run home run by Montesino in the top of the eighth inning. After hitting the go-ahead home run, Montesino retired three batters in a row to complete the game.