The NESCAC has released its Players of the Week for the week of April 28. The conference recognizes student-athletes for each sport based on their contributions to their team each week. This week's release includes the Player of the Week selections for baseball, softball, and men's and women's lacrosse.
Baseball | Weekly Release
Player of the Week
Ryan Nakajima - Williams – So. – OF – Bothell, Wash.
Nakajima went 13-of-22 batting, with nine RBI, nine runs, and two doubles in a 4-1 week for the Ephs, which included a sweep of Wesleyan. The sophomore recorded four multi-hit games, including going 4-for-5 in the batter's box, with two doubles and one RBI, against visiting RPI on Wednesday on Bobby Coombs Field.
Pitcher of the Week
Matt Higgins – Colby – Fy. – P – Norwell, Mass.
Higgins recorded two saves on the same day as Colby took the first two games of the series with Tufts. In Friday's opener, the first-year closed out a scoreless seventh inning for his seventh save of the season. Hours later, Higgins returned to the mound for the final two innings in the nightcap to earn his eighth save of the season, once again holding the Jumbos without a run. Higgins has recorded a save in his last five appearances, including four conference victories.
Softball | Weekly Release
Player of the Week
Sydney Fleming – Williams – Sr. – C – Burlingame, Calif.
Fleming went 10-of-20 batting, with 14 RBIs, six home runs and six runs scored, during a 5-2 week for the Ephs. The senior recorded three multi-hit games and recorded at least one home run in five of the seven games. Fleming went 2-for-3, with three RBI, two home runs, and two runs scored, in a 13-4 Game 1 victory over Colby on Sunday.
Pitcher of the Week
Sophia DiCocco – Tufts – Gr. – P – Bozrah, Conn.
DiCocco was outstanding in an undefeated week for the Jumbos. In three games (two starts), she was 3-0 with a 0.38 earned run average and allowed just seven hits and one walk in her 18.1 innings with 14 K's. DiCocco entered the Endicott game in relief on Wednesday and retired all 13 batters she faced (4.1 innings). In her next appearance, a start against Hamilton on Friday, she had a no-hitter through 6.2 innings. Combined between the Endicott and Hamilton games, she did not allow a hit for 11 straight innings. The graduate student finished with a one-hit shutout against Hamilton. Earlier in the week DiCocco allowed just one earned run in seven innings for a win over Babson.
Men's Lacrosse | Weekly Release
CK Giancola – Wesleyan – Gr. – M – Fort Myers, Fla.
Giancola unloaded for 11 goals and three assists in two games last week, including a five-goal effort in a dominant 15-6 win over Bates in the NESCAC Quarterfinal round on Saturday. Giancola scored five against the Bobcats and added two assists for a seven-point game. It marks his fifth straight postseason game with four or more goals, dating back to last season. The graduate student also scored six times to go along with one assist for another seven-point effort in the regular season finale, a 19-9 win at Conn. College.
Women's Lacrosse | Weekly Release
Julia Jardina - Colby - Sr. - M - Louisville, Ky.
Jardina totaled seven goals and an assist last week in two NESCAC wins. In the regular season finale against Bates, the senior recorded her fourth game of the season with five or more goals. Tacking on two additional scores in Saturday's quarterfinal victory over Trinity, including what proved to be the game-winner. Jardina has 55 goals on the season, five shy of the Colby single-season record. Already the career-leader for draw controls, Jardina added 10 more this week for a career total of 283.
