Softball: Chavez Collects Player of the Week Honor from Sun Belt

Daniella Chavez produced an RBI in four of her eight plate appearances and tallied a series-high six RBI, all in Saturday’s doubleheader, at Georgia Southern

LAFAYETTE – Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball’s Daniella Chavez was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week on Tuesday for her key contributions in last weekend’s Georgia Southern series.
Chavez, a junior transfer from Kansas, received her first weekly award from the Sun Belt and the second overall in her career (Big 12 Player of the Week, Feb. 16, 2016).
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns have now claimed six of the eight player of the week awards handed out by the Sun Belt this season. Chavez is the fourth different hitter from Louisiana to be honored this season, joining Kelli Martinez (Feb. 14), DJ Sanders (Feb. 21, Feb. 28, Mar. 28) and Lexie Comeaux (Mar. 7).
 
Chavez produced an RBI in four of her eight plate appearances in Statesboro and tallied six RBI total on Saturday as the Ragin’ Cajuns opened the series against Georgia Southern with a 15-0 (5 inn.), 10-2 (6 inn.) doubleheader sweep. Her RBI total was not only the team-high figure for Saturday, but represented the series-high amongst all players.
 
Louisiana’s designated player finished 3-for-6 at the plate in Saturday’s doubleheader highlighted by a run-scoring double and three-run homer in Game 2.
 
Her production on Saturday began in Game 1 as she contributed to a pair of five-run innings by the Cajuns with an RBI single in the fourth and sacrifice fly in the fifth. In Game 2, her double came in the third inning and stretched the lead to 4-1 giving Alyssa Denham more breathing room. Chavez helped the Cajuns pull away in the sixth inning as her home run increased the lead to 8-2.
 
The four RBI collected in Saturday’s finale tied her season-high figure, was the second time she reached the mark and represented her team-leading 11th multiple-RBI game of the year.
 
Chavez wound up hitting .571 in the series to raise her season batting average to .309. She increased her season RBI total to 33, second on the Cajuns squad only to Sanders (41) and Top 5 in the Sun Belt. With the pair of multiple-RBI games, she increased her career total to 44.
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns have now collected eight weekly awards total from the Sun Belt in 2017. Of the player of the week totals, Sanders has earned three while Martinez (Feb. 14), Comeaux (Mar. 7) and Chavez (Apr. 4) have been honored once each. Denham (Feb. 21) and Alex Stewart (Mar. 7) add a pitcher of the week award apiece to the team’s season award total.
 
Louisiana has claimed 84 player of the week honors since the Sun Belt Conference began bestowing the honor in 2000.
 
The 16th-ranked Ragin’ Cajuns (26-5, 9-0 Sun Belt), who extended the school and Sun Belt record of consecutive conference series won to 32 dating back to March 2013 with the Georgia Southern sweep, return to Lamson Park this weekend for a three-game Sun Belt series with Troy (16-22, 4-9 Sun Belt).
 
The Ragin’ Cajuns-Trojans series is scheduled for Saturday-Sunday, April 8-9. The teams will play a 2 p.m. doubleheader Saturday and Noon single game Sunday.
 
For more information on Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns Softball, as well as all of Ragin’ Cajuns Athletics, visit RaginCajuns.com. Fans can also follow along with the team on Facebook (/RaginCajunSoftball),Twitter (@RaginCajunsSB) and Instagram (@RaginCajunsSoftball).
 
2017 RAGIN’ CAJUNS SUN BELT PLAYER/PITCHER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Feb. 14 – Kelli Martinez (Player of the Week)
Feb. 21 – DJ Sanders (Player of the Week)
Feb. 21 – Alyssa Denham (Pitcher of the Week)
Feb. 28 – DJ Sanders (Player of the Week)
Mar. 7 – Lexie Comeaux (Player of the Week)
Mar. 7 – Alex Stewart (Pitcher of the Week)
Mar. 28 – DJ Sanders (Player of the Week)
Apr. 4 – Daniella Chavez (Player of the Week)
 
RAGIN’ CAJUNS SOFTBALL SUN BELT PLAYER OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE
2017: Kelli Martinez (2/14); DJ Sanders (2/21); DJ Sanders (2/28); Lexie Comeaux (3/7); DJ Sanders (3/28); Daniella Chavez (4/4)
2016: Lexie Elkins (2/16); DJ Sanders (3/8); Shellie Landry (3/28); Aleah Craighton (4/11); Kara Gremillion (5/9)
2015: Lexie Elkins (3/23); Lexie Elkins (4/20); Aleah Craighton (5/4)
2014: Lexie Elkins (2/10); Natalie Fernandez (3/24); Lexie Elkins (4/7)
2013: Brianna Cherry (2/25); Nerissa Myers (4/8); Nerissa Myers (4/29)
2012: Christi Orgeron (2/13); Christi Orgeron (2/20); Nerissa Myers (3/5); Nerissa Myers (3/19); Christi Orgeron (3/26); Christi Orgeron (4/23)
2011: Gabriele Bridges (2/14); Christi Orgeron (3/7); Gabriel Bridges (3/21); Christi Orgeron (4/18); Gabriele Bridges (5/2); Gabriele Bridges (5/9)
2010: Vallie Gaspard (2/15); Christi Orgeron (3/8); Christi Orgeron (3/29)
2009: Gabriele Bridges (2/16); Karli Hubbard (3/16); Gabriele Bridges (4/6); Christi Orgeron (4/20); Christi Orgeron (4/27)
2008: Melissa Verde (2/11); Holly Tankersley (3/10); Holly Tankersley (4/14)
2007: Codi Runyan (2/12); Holly Tankersley (2/19); Holly Tankersley (2/26); Holly Tankersley (3/12); Holly Tankersley (3/19); Melissa Verde (4/23)
2006: Danyele Gomez (2/14); Danyele Gomez (2/21); Danyele Gomez (4/3); Danyele Gomez (4/10); Danyele Gomez (4/24); Codi Runyan (5/8)
2005: Jill Robertson (2/21); Crystal George (3/14); Jill Robertson (4/18); Danyele Gomez (4/25); Danyele Gomez (5/2)
2004: Holly Tankersley (2/17); Holly Tankersley (3/2); Holly Tankersley (4/5); Holly Tankersley (5/3)
2003: Becky McMurtry (3/4); Danyele Gomez (3/13); Becky McMurtry (4/7); Danyele Gomez (4/14); Becky McMurtry (5/5)
2002: Alana Addison (3/18); Becky McMurtry (3/25); Jerie Alexander (4/1); Alana Addison (4/15); Missy Martin (4/22); Becky McMurtry (4/29)
2001: Alana Addison (3/19); Missy Martin (3/26); Alana Addison (4/2); Jerie Alexander (4/23); Jana Mower (4/30)
2000: Tiffany Clark (3/13); Alana Addison (3/27); Jana Mower (4/10); Tiffany Clark (4/17)