By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Western Washington University senior shortstop
Hailey Rath was selected as the GNAC Softball Player of the Week for games played March 23-29.
Rath was an on-base machine reaching safely in 13 of 17 plate appearances in WWU's four-game sweep vs. Central Washington to earn her second conference weekly award this season and fourth of her career.
In the four games vs. Central Rath batted .429 (3-for-7) with three doubles, seven walks, three hit-by-pitch and two RBI. She was also 2-for-2 stealing bases as the Vikings recorded 21 steals against the Wildcats in the series. Her productive (and patient) performance at the plate resulted in a 1.622 OPS (.765 OBP, .857 SLG).
Rath was also clutch for the Vikings throughout the series, scoring the game-winning run in Friday's 3-2 victory. She doubled to lead off the bottom of the 7th inning and scored on a sacrifice fly by senior first baseman
Olivia Matlock. In the sweep-clinching 13-5 win on Saturday, Rath delivered a walk-off double to put the Vikings up by eight runs for the run-rule victory. Playing every inning in the field during the series at shortstop, Rath was perfect in nine chances.
"Hailey continues to be a catalyst in our lineup and on our team … seven walks and three hit by pitches in one series shows that she's not someone Central wanted to pitch to. When she did get a chance to swing, she capitalized with two run-scoring doubles including the run-rule walk-off in Game 4," said WWU head coach
Sheryl Gilmore. "Hailey will do whatever it takes for the team to win, whether it's walking and getting hit by pitches and then being a menace on the bases, or getting the big hits with runners on. She finds a way to contribute and it's all a product of her incredible work ethic. She is a phenomenal leader and a gritty competitor. I can't wait to watch her continue to make her mark in the GNAC."
For the season Rath leads the team and ranks 6th in the conference batting .407 (33-for-81) with seven doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBI and a 1.419 OPS (.555 OBP, .864 SLG). For her career, Rath has started in all 202 possible games, batting .355 (233-for-657) and is WWU's all-time leader in hits (233), doubles (56), RBI (176), extra base hits (95) and is second in home runs (32).
The Vikings are 18-11 overall and off to a 4-0 start in GNAC play heading into their home four-game series this weekend against Northwest Nazarene starting Friday at noon at Viking Field. WWU has won 10 of its last 13 games heading into the second week of conference play.
