LOUISVILLE, Ky., -- Texas Lutheran University first year designated player Serena Gonzalez has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division III National Player of the Week it was announced Tuesday.
Gonzalez continued her stellar campaign at the plate blasting two home runs in the three-game series against Southwestern while maintaining a .714 batting average. Gonzalez drove in eight runs in the three-game sweep over the Pirates, including five in the series finale - boosted by a grand slam. Gonzalez leads the SCAC with eight home runs and is one shy of the freshman record held by Haley Padilla. For the week Gonzalez finished 5-for-7 at the plate with three extra base hits, four walks, two runs scored and eight RBI. She finished with 12 total bases, an impressive .818 on-base percentage and an astounding 1.714 slugging percentage.
Randolph-Macon’s Gracie Ellis was named the National Pitcher-of-the-Week. Winners are selected by the NFCA Division III Top 25 Committee, which has a representative for each of the 10 NCAA regions.
Earlier this week, Gonzalez was also named SCAC Hitter of the Week.
Gonzalez is the first SCAC athlete to be recognized by the NFCA for one of its national weekly awards since TLU’s Ashlyn Strother was named Pitcher of the Week back in March of 2022. She is the first SCAC athlete to earn NFCA Player of the Week honors since TLU’s Kaymee Gooden was recognized back in 2017.
