PacWest Release #11 Newport Beach, CA -- For the second time in four weeks, ART U Softball's
Taylor Thurman was named Hawaii Tourism Authority Pacific West Conference Player of the Week after a powerful showing at the plate. Thurman drove in a conference-high 12 runs across six games while batting .400 for the Urban Knights. The honor was announced by the PacWest Conference office on Monday, Apr. 14 for games played Apr. 7-13.
Thurman started the week with a 3-for-3 performance in game one of a doubleheader hosting Holy Names on
Apr. 9. She would score three runs in the 8-7 victory including the game-winner in the sixth. The Lake Forest, CA native then went 1-for-4 with another RBI and a run scored both in the Knights' six-run rally that ended up being the difference in an 11-5 victory.
Thurman's RBI streak continued through the series with Azusa Pacific beginning on
Apr. 11. Following a 1-for-3 game one that included a RBI, she crushed a three-run homer in the first inning of the second contest and later doubled. In her very next game on
Apr. 12, the junior blasted a grand slam in the first inning to put her team on top early then, in the series finale, Thurman came up in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded and her team behind by three. The perfect situation unfortunately would never be as she was hit by the pitch though still driving in a run nonetheless.
On the week, Thurman batted .400 (8-20) with two doubles, two home runs, six runs scored, and 12 RBsI. She drove in at least one run in all six games on the week while compiling a .800 slugging percentage. Thurman ranks fifth in the PacWest with 41 RBI and is five away from setting the program's new single-season record.
This is Thurman's second PacWest Player of the Week honor this season and the third in her career.
