Hutchison Garners USA Softball National Co-Player of the Week Honors

OKLAHOMA CITY – Following a fantastic week at the plate and in the field, NC State's Molly Hutchison has been named the USA Softball Collegiate National Co-Player of the Week, announced Tuesday by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball.

It is just the second time in NC State softball history that a player has collected the national player of the week award. Former Wolfpack standout Abbie Sims secured the mention during the 2007 season. Hutchison garnered the award along with Michigan's Sierra Romero.

"It's well deserved for Molly," head coach Shawn Rychcik said. "She had a fantastic week with big hits in every game and we needed her to have them. I'm super proud of her, she's been working really hard.

"It took her a couple weeks to get going, but she's stayed at it and it showed up this week. It's a really big honor to get the national player of the week award because you're competing against all the other athletes at softball programs in the country and it's super special to our program."

The San Diego, Calif., native turned in one of the best weekly performances in Wolfpack softball history, compiling a .667 batting average at the plate with eight hits in 12 at-bats. She collected seven runs batted in (RBI) and also scored six runs.

Hutchison hit two home runs, highlighted by a three-run blast to tie the score at five in Sunday's contest against Virginia Tech. Her other home run in the second game of the Saturday doubleheader helped the Wolfpack pull within a run of the Hokies at 8-7.

"Wow, it's quite the honor," Hutchison said after learning she was selected for the award. "It's such an honor to represent NC State at this level and to achieve this award is great exposure for our school and our program. I'm extremely excited about it and it feels great.

"I just wanted to hit the ball hard each time I stepped to the plate. Coach Rychcik talks all the time about having quality at-bats, hitting the ball hard and things worked out for me this weekend. I was happy to get some big hits to help our team win, so I'm very pleased to be named USA Softball Co-Player of the Week."

She had at least one hit in all four games and was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate in Sunday's game. Hutchison smacked her first career triple against Charlotte last Wednesday, as she motored around the bases after hitting a ball along the right field line. The junior also drove in what proved to be the winning run against the 49ers in the sixth inning on a double to right field.

For the week, Hutchison registered a 1.417 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage. She was also great defensively, seeing action behind the plate and in right field, as she threw out a runner trying to tag from third base and score after making a catch in the outfield.

Her stellar week at the plate helped lift her batting average nearly 80 points from .277 to a team best .356.

NC State returns to action Friday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. against Delaware State when it begins play in the NC State DoubleTree RDU Challenge at Dail Stadium.

#STATEment

Hutchison Garners USA Softball National Co-Player of the Week Honors

Players Mentioned

Molly Hutchison

Related Videos