Alexis Cantu Named MVC Softball Player of the Week
4/9/2012 2:23:00 PM | Softball
OMAHA, Neb. -- Creighton sophomore Alexis Cantu has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week. It's the first honor as a Bluejay for the sophomore from Frisco, Texas.
Cantu hit .421 with four home runs, seven runs and 11 RBI in six games last week, helping Creighton to a three-game road sweep at Wichita State, and also was undefeated in two complete games as a pitcher, holding foes to a .163 batting average.
Cantu owned a 1.053 slugging percentage and owned a .560 on-base percentage thanks in part to her five walks and one hit-by-pitch as well. Cantu had a hit in five of the six games, and walked in four of the six contests.
Her week was highlighted by one of the most impressive single-game offensive displays in MVC history on Friday, when she went 4-for-4 with three homers and eight RBI in a 14-4 win at Wichita State. Cantu's three homers are tied for third in NCAA single-game history, while her eight RBI are tied for 19th in NCAA history. In addition, her 13 total bases are tied for seventh in NCAA history. All three figures tie or set MVC single-game records.
Cantu also homered in Saturday's series finale at Wichita State, her Valley-high 10th dinger of the year, and most in Creighton history by a left-handed hitter in one season.
In the circle, Cantu was 1-0 with a 1.87 ERA while throwing a pair of complete games last week. In 15 innings of work, she yielded just eight hits, holding foes to a .163 batting average.
She threw a season-high 9.0 innings of one-run ball in Tuesday's tie at South Dakota State, surrendering just three hits. Then on Friday, Cantu threw a complete game in CU's 14-4 win at Wichita State, a game called after six innings after her third homer of the game.
For the season, Cantu is hitting .337 and leads the MVC with 10 homers, 34 walks and a .735 slugging percentage. She has also driven in 33. In the circle, Cantu is 6-2 with a 3.97 ERA.
Cantu is the third different Bluejay to earn weekly accolades from the MVC this year. Amy Baker earned a similar honor on Feb. 13 and April 2nd, while Becca Changstrom was tabbed MVC Pitcher of the Week on April 2nd.
Creighton (20-15-1, 9-3 MVC) returns to action on Wednesday with a 6 pm game at Nebraska. The Jays will then host first-place Northern Iowa this weekend in a three-game series at the CU Sports Complex beginning with Saturday's 12 pm doubleheader.
