O’Connor, Bull sweep WCC weekly honors

PROVO, Utah – Sophomores McKenna Bull and Mercedes O’Connor received Pitcher and Player of the Week, the West Coast Conference announced Monday.

The sophomores powered the Cougars to four victories in the first games played outside the U.S. in NCAA softball history.

Bull received her third-straight weekly conference honor, anchoring the BYU defense from the circle while upping her record to 13-3 on the season. The Ogden, Utah, native recorded a stifling 0.58 ERA while striking out 21 batters in 24.0 innings pitched. Bull allowed opponents a .182 batting average while giving up three hits or less in each of the final three games of the tournament. She threw three complete games in four starts.

O’Connor, the outfielder out of Huntington Beach, California, averaged .400 from the plate, hitting 6-for-15 with a double, two home runs, eight RBI and a stolen base. She registered an .867 slugging percentage and batted 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position. O’Connor notched her first multi-home run game of her career, hitting two homers that drove in the final four runs in the 5-4 comeback win over Northern Colorado.

The Cougars continue tournament play this week as they face North Dakota State, Northern Iowa, Indiana State, Tennessee and Purdue in the University of Tennessee Tournament Thursday through Saturday.