LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Texas’ Kayden Henry and Boston University’s Kasey Ricard were named 2024 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo was recognized for their outstanding performances for contests played through Feb. 18.
Henry slashed .833/.833/1.833 in two big wins over then-No. 2 Tennessee and then-No. 9 Stanford at the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational presented by EvoShield. She homered twice in a 9-2 win over the Cardinal and went 3-for-3 with half the Longhorns’ hits in the 2-1 triumph over the Lady Vols. She finished 5-for-6 with a stolen base and three runs scored before weather canceled Texas’ final three games of the tournament.
Over four appearances and three starts, Ricard posted a 3-0 record with a 0.31 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 22.1 innings of work at the Charlotte Invitational. She held her opposition to a .132 batting average and twirled shutouts in her first two starts of the weekend. Ricard one-hit Queens with 11 strikeouts and one walk. She also held the host 49ers to five hits and fanned 12 batters in a 1-0 win. In her other start against Charlotte, the sophomore from Littleton, Mass. was one out from a third straight shutout, but held on for a 2-1 victory (ER, 4 H, 6 K).
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
Nijaree Canady, Stanford – 1-1, 0.58 ERA, 11 K, 3 BB, 12 IP vs. No. 2 Tennessee and No. 7 Florida State;
Taylor Fitzgerald, Idaho State – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, 0 BB, 13.1 IP, .049 opp. BA;
Cierra Harrison, Missouri – 3 App/2 GS, 1 CG, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 SO, 1 BB, 13.1 IP, 1/1 SHO, no-hitter vs. A&M-Kingsville;
Morgan Leinstock, Arkansas – 2 App/1 GS, 2-0, 0.54 ERA, 13.0 IP, 15 SO, 1 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 1 CG, 1 SHO;
Brook Melynychuk, Louisiana Tech – 3 APP/ 2 GS, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 9 K, 2 BB, 4 H, .51 WHIP, .100 OPP BAVG;
Haley Rainey, Cal State Fullerton – 3 App/2 GS, 0-2, 3.50 ERA, 11 K, 1 BB, 14 IP;
Aspen Wesley, Mississippi State – 2 APP/2 GS, 2-0, 0.54 ERA, 12 SO, 2 BB, 13.0 IP, 2 CG;
Ava Arce, Cal State Fullerton – 4 GP/0 GS, .750 avg, 6 RBI;
Britain Beshears, Michigan State – 5 GP/5 GS, .375 avg, 4 HR, 8 RBI, .412 OBP, 1.125 SLG, 5 runs scored;
Jessie Blaine, Mississippi State – 5 GP/ 5 GS, .412 AVG, 2 2B, 7 RBI, 1.180 OPS;
Holly Blaska, Miami – 2 GP/2GS, .667 avg., 4 HR, 7 RBI, 16 TB, 2.667 SLG., 1 HBP, .714 OB%;
Caroline Easom, Louisiana Tech – 6 GP / 6 GS, .600 AVG, 3 2B, 12 TB, 4 BB, 2 RBI, .684 OBP, 1.484 OPS, .800 SLG;
Jocelyn Erickson, Florida – 4 GP/4GS, .667 AVG, 3 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 1.167 SLG, .571 OBP, 2 SF, 1 SB;
Kristin Fifield, Grand Canyon – 4 GP/4 GS, .714 AVG, 8 R, 1 SB;
Maddie Gallagher, Missouri – 5 GP/5 GS, .500 avg., 0 2B, 0 HR, 4 RBI, .500 SLG, .643 OB%;
Raeleen Gutierrez, Missouri – 3 GP/3 GS, .455 avg., 1.273 SLG, .500 OB, 1.773 OPS, 5 H, 1 2b, 1 3b, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB 5 R;
Daisy Hess, Louisville – 6 GP/GS, 444 avg, 8H, 2-2B, 5R, 7 RBI, 3-for-3 SB, .565 OBP;
Kayt Houston, Appalachian State – 5 GP/5GS, 12-18 (.667 BA), 4 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 2 BB, .700 OBP, 1.556 SLG;
Aly Kaneshiro, Stanford – 4 GP/ 4 GS, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 1 BB, 4 R;
Lauren Keleher, Boston University – 5 GP/5 GS, .444 avg., 1 2B, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI, .833 SLG%;
Tori Meyer, Bradley – 5 GP/5 GS, .500 avg, 3 2B, 2 HR, 1 3B, 4 RBI, 1.050% SLG