IRVINE, Calif. -- The field is set for the PacWest Softball AQ Pod Series, which will determine which PacWest team will earn this automatic bid into the NCAA West Regional. The two-day round-robin event features each of the pod champions from the PacWest’s three geographic regions, which are Concordia, Dominican and Hawai`i Hilo.
Dominican will be the host of the AQ Pod Series, which will be held on May 12-13 on Penguin Field. Each team will face each other twice and the team with the best win-loss record at the end of the event will receive an automatic berth into the postseason.
Concordia is already comfortably in the playoff picture as the No. 1 team in the West Region according to the most recent NCAA rankings. Hawai`i Hilo is ranked fifth in the region with only four at-large bids being awarded based on the rankings, meaning the Vulcans will need to end their season with a strong performance. Western Washington, which is the No. 4 team in the West Region rankings earned the GNAC’s AQ last week.
Dominican has the most to play for next week as the No. 7 team in the region, looking to get into the field of six teams. Central Washington finished its season with a 15-14 record against NCAA Division II teams and is one spot ahead of the Penguins. A strong performance for the Penguins could push them ahead of Central Washington, or if Dominican wins the AQ Pod Series, the Penguins would advance automatically.
Weekly awards for the Week of May 3-9
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Chelsea Sligh, Academy of Art
2B, GS, 5-4 -- San Jose, Calif.
Sligh recorded seven hits in the Urban Knights’ three wins against Holy Names last week as Academy of Art finished the season with a 14-10 record in pod play. Sligh led the conference this week in hits, doubles, and total bases. She went 7 for 12 with two doubles and a home run to drive in five runs. Sligh also scored twice herself and reached on a walk once. In the final game of her collegiate career, Slight went 3 for 3 and was a triple away from the cycle with three RBIs as Academy of Art won, 8-0.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Leah Gonzales, Hawai`i Hilo
RHP, Sr., 5-7 -- Wilmington, Calif.
Gonzales earned two wins against Hawai`i Pacific last week throwing 11 innings with just two earned runs allowed to lead the Vulcans to a pair of victories. Hawai`i Hilo is now 16-8 in pod play with a three-game winning streak going into the AQ Pod Series. Gonzales has a 1.28 ERA this season, which leads all pitchers in the PacWest, and she has a 7-1 record. The Vulcans are currently ranked fifth in the West Region with six teams advancing to the postseason.
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Haley Randall, Academy of Art
INF, Fr., 5-6 -- Walnut Creek, Calif.
Randall recorded the sixth multi-hit game of her freshman season on Thursday as she went 2 for 3 with a pair of singles against Holy Names. In the first game of the series, Randall was 1 for 5 with a run and an RBI. Her batting average for the season was at .400 after she went 1 for 3 in the third game of the series with her fourth single of the week against Holy Names. Randall added one more run and RBI in the series finale to help the Urban Knights win three of four games to finish just one game behind first.