March 23, 1999

Villanova, Pa. --- Two members of Villanova softball's junior class have won Big East Conference honors this week, marking the third time in as many weeks of this year's awards that the Wildcats have had at least one player earn player, pitcher, or rookie of the week. Mia Brickhouse is this week's Big East Player of the Week, while Carrie Walpole is this week's Big East Co-Pitcher of the Week award winner, sharing the honor with Mary Dietz from Boston College.

In Villanova's seven games this past week, Brickhouse (Philadelphia, Pa./ Girard) hit .680 (17-for-25), scored nine runs, stole seven bases (on seven attempts) and had four RBI. Brickhouse has gotten a hit in 11 consecutive at-bats, a streak that began in the third inning against Lehigh, three games ago. On Sunday, in the championship game of the Lehigh Invitational Tournament against St. Joe's University, Brickhouse went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBI, and two runs scored. The prior game, she had her first of her two 4-hit games of the week. The fleet-footed centerfielder raised her season average to .642 in leading the Wildcats to a 5-1-1 record on the week, including the title at the Lehigh Invitational over the weekend where Villanova went 4-0-1.

Walpole (Miami, Fla./ Ransom Everglades) made four starts last week, going 3-1 with 17 strikeouts and a 2.03 ERA in 20 2/3 innings of work. Her biggest highlight of the week came on Sunday against St. Joe's University in the championship game of the Lehigh Invitational Tournament when she pitched a no-hitter, striking out four and walking none in a five-inning time-shortened shutout (only a fifth-inning Villanova error prevented a perfect game). Walpole also had a big day on Saturday, picking up two victories (against Delaware and Lehigh, respectively). For the season, Walpole is 5-3 with a 1.81 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 50 1/3 innings.

Statistics for games March 15 through March 21, 1999