Utah Valley University's Dynasty Lauvai and New Mexico State's Karysta Donisthorpe have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for May 2-8. This is the first-ever honor for Lauvai and the second of the season and seventh of her career for Donisthorpe.
Lauvai, a senior outfielder from Tempe, Arizona, hit .500 with a home run, three walks, six runs scored and three RBIs during the final four regular season games of her career last week. She also posted an .875 slugging percentage and a .636 on-base percentage. In UVU's lone victory of the week, Lauvai went a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, two singles, two walks, five runs scored and three RBIs en route to the 21-6 Wolverine victory. The 21 runs marked the most runs Utah Valley has ever scored against a Division I opponent. After the big week, Lauvai upped her season batting average from .250 to .288 and doubled her season totals in home runs and RBIs.
Donisthorpe, a redshirt senior from Farmington, New Mexico, went 1-0 with a 0.88 ERA in one appearance last week. In an 8.0 inning outing, she scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run. Donisthorpe threw six shutout innings and struck out six while walking two for her eighth complete game this season.
The honors mark the final weekly league awards of the 2016 season.
Lauvai and her Utah Valley teammates now head to Seattle for the WAC Tournament that will run this Thursday through Saturday, May 12-14, at Seattle University's Logan Field. The fifth-seeded Wolverines open play against the host and fourth-seeded Seattle U Redhawks on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. MT.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees included NM State's Brennalyn Nakamura who hit 1.000 with three stolen bases.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees included Missouri-Kansas City's Amber Grove who went 2-0 with a 2.77 ERA with 12 strikeouts through 17.2 innings last week.
James Warnick is an assistant sports information director at Utah Valley University. For more information about Wolverine athletics, visit WolverineGreen.com.