Irvine, CA—The Big West announced today that UC Riverside catcher Natalie Sanchez is the conference's Softball Player of the Week for games played from February 16-22.
The junior took to the field in the final four games of the Amy S. Harrison Classic, hosted by UC Riverisde, registering a .600 (6-for-10) batting average with two runs scored, seven RBI and a 1.300 slugging percentage. Sanchez notched two victories apiece over Utah State and San Diego, contributing to the Highlanders 11-4 overall record at the conclusion of the weekend.
With 11 wins so far this season, UC Riverside is off to its best start since 2006 when the Highlanders won 12 of their first 15 games.
The catcher has recorded at least one RBI in each of the last three games. Her biggest impact of the tournament occured in the final game, a 10-2 smack down against the Toreros, in which she hammered back-to-back home runs and had five RBI.
Sanchez also got in on the action defensively, recording UCR's first pick-off of the season on a throw-down to first, tabbing a San Diego runner in the top of the first inning of game one's doubleheader.
Sanchez is the first Highlander softball player to receive Player of the Week honors since outfield Kayla White took home the award March 18, 2013.
View all-time list of UC Riverisde Big West Player of the Week honorees.
RivIrJunior Natalie Sanchez (Moreno Valley, Calif./Valley View HS) contributed heavily to UC Riverside's success as she earned Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honors after a 5-0 showing at the Amy S. Harrison Tournament.
Sanchez, who played the final four games of the UCR-hosted tournament, notched a .600 (6-for-10) average with two runs scored and seven RBI. She keyed two victories apiece over Utah State and San Diego, helping the Highlanders conclude the weekend 11-4 overall and with their best start since the 2006 season when UCR won 12 of its first 15 games.
The catcher delivered at least one RBI in each of the last three games. Her biggest impact came in the tournament finale, a 10-2 rout of the Toreros, in which she blasted back-to-back home runs and had five RBI.
She finished the week with a 1.300 slugging percentage and also got in on the act defensively, recording UCR's first pick-off of the season when she tabbed a San Diego runner in the top of the first inning of game one's doubleheader. - See more at: http://www.bigwest.org//story.asp?story_id=18269#sthash.XlBkd0DF.dpuf
