After a dominant week of eight wins in seven days, Linfield softball catcher Ashlyn Aven and pitcher Tyler McNeley swept the Northwest Conference's Softball Athletes of the Week honors.
 
Riding a 12 game winning streak, the Wildcats had four non-conference doubleheaders last week between Del Smith Stadium and Southern California, outscoring their opponents 83-19 in those eight wins.
 
Senior catcher Ashlyn Aven was a focal point in the offense, while starting each game behind the dish for the 'Cats. Aven went 15-27 (.556) with six doubles and three home runs, driving in 18 runners. She walked four times, stole two bases, and struck out just once. The Yelm, Washington, native leads the NWC in home runs, total bases, runs batted in and slugging percentage. She also serves as one of the best power hitters in all of Division III to begin the season.
 
The 'Cats ace on the mound, junior Tyler McNeley earned her third NWC Pitcher of the Week honor after continuing to roll through each team she faces. McNeley made four starts in five total appearances, earning five wins for the week to bring her season total to 11; one of the best in the country thus far this season. Over 29 innings pitched, the junior earned three runs, walked seven and struck out 33 batters. Opponents hit just .155 off of McNeley, and failed to hit a home run off of her. With four complete games tossed, two of which where shutouts last week. McNeley ranks No. 2 in the NWC in ERA (1.74), but leads in shutouts (5), innings pitched (92.1), strikeouts (98) and wins (11). 
 
CatBall returns to the diamond this weekend in Spokane, Washington, taking on the Whitworth Pirates on Saturday and Sunday in a four-game Northwest Conference series. 
 
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