Official NWC Release

HILLSBORO, Ore. —Pacific Lutheran University softball student-athletes Paige Wilson and Paola Garcia maintained their grip on the Northwest Conference Player of the Week honors on Monday, sweeping the awards for the second straight week. 
 
Wilson wins NWC Pitcher of the Week for the third consecutive week while Garcia grabs NWC Hitter of the Week for the second consecutive week and the third time this spring. 

The awards sweep comes on the heels of a series win over third-ranked Linfield University, vaulting the Lutes (28-8, 20-4 NWC) into sole possession of first place in the conference standings and handing the Wildcats their first four-game series defeat in NWC play since 2015. PLU earned a split on day one on Saturday, outlasting the Cats 1-0 in the opener before stumbling 15-13 in the nightcap. It was a Lute sweep on Sunday with winning scores of 6-4 and 7-3.

Paige Wilson played a massive role in earning the series victory, securing a pair of complete game wins. That includes tossing a 1-0 shutout in Saturday's series opener, racking up 13 strikeouts while allowing just one walk and five hits. The Carlsbad, California native struck out four and allowed just one walk in Sunday's game one victory. She finished the week with 18 strikeouts in 14 innings of work with a 2-0 record and a 2.00 earned run average. 
 
Garcia extended her hitting streak to 10 games over the weekend, hitting .500 at the plate with a .625 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage. The Downey, California native mashed two home runs, scored six runs, and drove in eight to power the Lutes to a series win. Arguably her best game of the weekend was Sunday's first game, going yard twice and driving in five runs in the 6-4 win. 

Wilson was previously named NWC Pitcher of the Week on April 6 and 13 while Garcia was previously awarded NWC Hitter of the Week on March 16 and April 13.

The Lutes look to capture their first NWC regular season title since 2003 this coming weekend with a four-game series with Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.