Sports Briefs March 28, 2011

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Benson Named GWC Offensive Player of the Week

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Utah Valley senior outfielder Chris Benson has been named the Great West Conference Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on March 24.

Benson hit at a .533 clip (8-for-15) in a March 17-19 three-game set against Southern Utah. He had multi-hit games in each contest during the series, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two steals in the opener, 2-for-4 in second game and closing out the weekend with a 3-for-6 effort in the wild, come-from-behind 13-11 victory over SUU in 10 innings.

Benson helped UVU overcome an 11-1 deficit in defeating the Thunderbirds in extra innings by doubling with two outs in the 10th, raising his season average to .412. Chicago State’s Gregory Day earned the conference’s Pitcher of the Week award.

Softball’s Summers and Telarroja named PCSC Players of the Week

OREM, Utah – UVU softball players Josi Summers and Samantha Telarroja have been named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference Mountain Division Players of the Week after outstanding performances at Loyola Marymount’s Marina International Hotel Showcase March 17-18. Summers was named the pitcher of the week while Telarroja was named the player.

The award is both athletes’ first weekly honor of their careers.

The freshman RHP Summers went 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA (15.1 IP, 8 ER) in three appearances, including two starts. Summers tossed complete games in her two starts against Loyola Marymount (W, 8.0 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO) and North Dakota (L, 6.0 IP, 8 H 8 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 SO). The nine strikeouts against the Lions was a season-high. For the season, Summers has made 11 appearances, including nine starts. She is 2-8 with a 6.26 ERA (46.1 IP, 41 ER) with five complete games.

The Senior Shortstop Telarroja hit 417, going 5-for-12 with two HRs and three RBI in four games last week. She also scored three runs, stole two bases and walked three times to record a .500 OBA. Telarroja opened the week going 2-for-4 with a homer and two RBI in an 11-7 loss to Bethune-Cookman. In the Wolverines’ 5-3 extra-inning win over Loyola Marymount, Telarroja went 2-for-4 with a big fly. For this season, she is tied at the top of the team with three home runs.