LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Miami’s Kate Kobayashi and Boston University’s Kasey Ricard collected 2024 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors for their outstanding performances last week (April 8-14). It marked the third honor this season for the Terrier hurler.
In a three-game Mid-American Conference sweep of Akron, Kobayashi batted .667 with a double, four home runs and 10 RBI. She scored seven runs and slugged 2.111. Kobayashi capped off the series with a pair of long balls and four RBI. She homered in each of the other two matchups and also knocked in four runs in game two. Along with a 2-for-4, two-RBI outing at Butler, Kobayashi finished the week, hitting .615 with 12 RBI.
Ricard tossed 17.1 innings of scoreless ball, racking up 26 strikeouts, walking four and scattering eight hits. The Littleton, Mass. native twirled two complete game shutouts in Patriot League wins over Holy Cross, fanning seven (2 H, 5 IP) and 11 (3 H, 7 IP), respectively. She added seven more punchouts in four innings of scoreless relief to earn the win over UMass.
With her third plaudit this season, Ricard becomes the first three-time honoree since UCLA’s Rachel Garcia (two pitcher & one player) in 2016. The last student-athlete to earn three pitching nods was UCF’s Shelby Turnier in 2015.
The Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee.
Selected Top Performances
Lizzy Avery, Boston University – 6 GP/6 GS, .467 avg., 1 2B, 6 BBs, 6 RBIs, 7 R, .619 OB%, .533 SLG%;
Eden Bigham, Virginia – 2 APP/2GS, 1.00 ERA, 15 SO, 5 BB, 14.0 IP, .156 OppBA;
Mattie Boyd, Rutgers – 4 app/ 3 GS, 2-1, 3 CG, 1 save, 1 shutout, 1.67 ERA, 16 SO;
NiJaree Canady, Stanford – 1 app/1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 SO, 1 BB, 0 H, 5 IP;
Karlie Charles, Iowa State – 3 App/2 GS, 1-0, 1.62 ERA, 6 SO, 3 BB, 13 IP;
Claire Davidson, Duke – 5 GP/5GS, .429 Avg, 6-for-14, 2 2B, 2HR, 10RBI, .550 OBP, 1.000 SLG;
Oliva DiNardo, Arizona – 5 GP/4 GS, .500 AVG, 6 H, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 5 R, 3 BB, 1.250 SLG, 1.850 OPS;
Ava Gall, Stanford – 4 GP/4 GS, .615 avg., 1 HR, 6 RBI, 2 R, 3 BB, .846 SLG;
Lexi Hastings, UConn – 3 GP/3 GS, .556 avg, 1 2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.556 SLG;
Olivia Lackie, South Alabama – 2 App/2 GS. 2-0. 0.50 ERA, 12 SO, 14 IP, .120 Opp BA;
Kelley Lynch, LSU – 2 App/2 GS, 1-0, 1 Sho, 1, no-hitter vs. Auburn, 2.62 ERA, 14 SO, 6 BB, .114 Opp Avg.;
Viviana Martinez, Texas – 4 GP/4 GS, .667 avg., 10 TB, 8 H, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2 2B, 2 BB, 1 SH;
Lauren Sablone, Princeton – 3 GP/3 GS .875 avg (7 for 8), 2 HR, 1.625 Slugging, 3 BB, 1 SB;
Stephanie Schoonover, Kentucky – 2-0; 2 GC; 2 APP; 14.0 IP, 14K, 7R, 8BB, 300 pitches, 14H vs. Georgia;
Aissa Silva, Arizona – 5 App/1 GS, 4-0, 2.03 ERA, 20.2 IP, 9 SO, 5 BB, 6 ER, .260 B/AVG;
Morgan Smith, Rutgers – .500 avg, 4 HRs, 16 RBIs, 1 2B, 7 runs, 3-3 SB, 1.583 slg %;
Emily Winburn, Delaware – 3 GS, 3 CG, 21 IP, 0.67 ERA, 18 H, 6 ER, 2 R, 18 SO, 3 wins;
Jala Wright, Duke – 3 App/2GS, 1-1, 1 SV, 1.87 ERA, 18 SO, 15.0 IP, 10H, 4ER, win and save at Clemson.