NORFOLK, Va., April 18, 2022–Howard senior Kalita Dennis has been named Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, it was announced on Monday. Meanwhile, Norfolk State freshman Kenna Higa and Howard freshman Lealani Ricks are the Co-Rookies of the Week and Morgan State sophomore Anaya Hunte is the Pitcher of the Week.
Dennis (OF, Sr., Elk Grove, Calif.) was 7-for-10 (.700) at the plate in the Bison’s three-game sweep of South Carolina State over the weekend, recording a pair of 3-for-3 performances at the plate. She totaled nine RBIs and five runs scored for the series, and in the opener, Dennis hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs. She added another home run in the finale to give her three for the weekend, driving in another four runs.
Higa (INF, Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii) was 3-for-6 (.500) at the plate against North Carolina Central, driving in three runs and scoring three times in the series sweep. She was 2-for-2 with two RBIs in the nationally televised opener on Friday, and she followed that with a home run in the second game of the doubleheader.
Ricks (INF, Fr., Madera, Calif.) was 3-for-8 (.375) in the Bison’s three-game sweep of South Carolina State, scoring six runs and driving in three. She was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base in the series opener, and she was 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and three runs scored in Saturday’s finale.
Hunte (P, So., Burlington, N.C.) threw the first perfect game in Morgan State history on Wednesday against Delaware State. Of the 21 batters Hunte faced, she struck out 16 of them – breaking the program single-game strikeout record for the second time this season. She struck out the first 10 batters of the game and struck out the side four times. In two appearances against Maryland Eastern Shore, she combined for 12 strikeouts (including six in a complete game shutout on Friday) and allowed just one earned run.
Other Top Performers
Maren Bernal (Coppin State) allowed just two hits in five innings of relief against Delaware State to pick up the win.
Isabelle Zalba (Coppin State) had seven hits in 15 at-bats in five games, totaling four RBIs and three runs scored.
Aliya Ewell (Morgan State) was 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored in the opener against Maryland Eastern Shore, hitting a triple and a home run.
Alison Guckin (Norfolk State) was 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored in a nationally televised game against North Carolina Central.
Alexis Robinson (Norfolk State) picked up two wins in three appearances against North Carolina Central, including a complete game with eight strikeouts in the second game of Friday’s doubleheader.