April 10, 2007

LAS VEGAS - UNLV redshirt freshman Jaci Hull and freshman righthander Stephanie Bregante have been named Mountain West Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

Hull, a Scottsdale, Ariz., native helped UNLV to a 4-0 record on the weekend. Hull hit .400, while leading the offense in runs (3), doubles (1), home runs (2), RBI (3), slugging (1.100) and walks (2). In game one vs. Utah, Hull led UNLV's rally from two-runs down in the sixth inning. She delivered a one-out solo home run to cut the Utes' lead in half at 2-1. In the second game, she hit an RBI-double down the right-field line to push UNLV ahead, 2-0, en route to a 2-1 victory. Against BYU, she opened the game with a solo homer in the first to give UNLV a 1-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Hull's steal of second base forced an overthrow by BYU's catcher, which allowed an insurance run to score. In Sunday's game vs. BYU, she also helped UNLV to a three-run first inning with a lead-off single to score the game's first run.

Bregante, hailing from Danville, Calif., helped UNLV to three of four wins with one start and two relief stints. With the three wins, she improved her record to 10-6. On the weekend, she held an ERA of 0.51 in 13.2 innings of work. She allowed only one run on four hits, while striking out 18. The opposition hit a paltry .089 against her in 45 at-bats. In game one vs. Utah, she tossed the final 5.2 innings and held the Utes scoreless, giving up only two hits, while striking out six. In her only start of the weekend, she pitched 5.0 innings against BYU on Friday night, allowing only one run on one hit, while tying her season-high of nine strikeouts. On Sunday vs. BYU, she tossed the final 3.0 innings for the win. She entered with two on and none out and kept BYU off of the scoreboard with the bases loaded. Bregante also struck out three in the relief win.

This is the third such honor for Hull, while it is Bregante's first. Hull previously won player of the week on March 13 and March 27.