Lopez Named Second Team All-MVC; Rodas on All-Defensive Team
Â
Two Valpo softball players were honored Wednesday morning as the Missouri Valley Conference unveiled its postseason awards. Azalya Lopez (Corona, Calif./Eleanor Roosevelt [MSU Moorhead]) was named a Second Team All-MVC honoree at pitcher/utility, while Kim Rodas (San Bernardino, Calif./Cajon) represented the Beacons on the All-Defensive Team.
Lopez has stood out both in the circle and at the plate in her first year at Valpo. The junior is tied for first among MVC pitchers in saves (4), ranks fifth in strikeouts (102), fifth in opponents’ batting average (.222), sixth in wins (10) and eighth in ERA (2.89). She was in on the decision in eight of Valpo’s nine MVC wins, earning five wins and three saves in conference action. At the plate in Valley play, Lopez hit a team-best .307, posted a team-high OPS of .835 and drove in a team-best 17 runs. This marks the second straight season Lopez has earned All-Conference recognition, as she was a First Team All-NSIC honoree last season playing at MSU Moorhead.
Rodas has been stellar defensively since moving to shortstop early in the MVC campaign. In 21 starts at shortstop, the junior has recorded 33 putouts and 38 assists while committing just one error — a fielding percentage of .986 at the position. Overall this year, while also seeing action at second base and at third base, Rodas has committed just four errors and boasts a .973 fielding percentage.