Brawley grad tapped for conference honor
RIVERSIDE — Brawley Union High graduate and current UC Riverside junior Hannah Rodriguez picked up Big West Conference Player of the Week honors after helping the Highlanders’ softball team secure its first series sweep of the season in defeating UC Santa Barbara last week.
The starting shortstop put together an impressive performance on offense and defense to win the honor for the first time.
At the plate, Rodriguez hit .700 after going 7-10 at the plate to fuel a Highlander offense that outscored UC Santa Barbara 36-14 in three wins.
In the three-game span Rodriguez had at least one run, two hits and one RBI in all three games against the Gauchos.
The former Wildcat opened the series going 2-3, with a run scored and an RBI in the 13-11 victory. Her sac fly capped off a seven-run outburst in the first inning.
In game two, Rodriguez went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and added a stolen base in UCR’s 9-3 triumph. Her second-inning single gave the Highlanders a 4-0 lead and proved to be the game-winning RBI.
The 2015 BUHS grad then closed the series going 2-3 with a double and three more RBIs as the Highlanders cruised to a 14-0, run-rule victory on Senior Day. She also doubled in two runs in the second inning and drove in UCR’s 14th run via a sac fly.
Just as impressive was Rodriguez’s effort on defense as she fielded a perfect 1.000 in the series. Rodriguez had 13 catches, two putouts and 11 assists against the Gauchos.
The series-sweep extends the Highlanders’ winstreak to five games as they prepare for their final Big West series at Cal State Fullerton on Friday and Saturday.
In those last games, Rodriguez has gone 14-20 with 11 RBIs.