Zinanti and Ramirez Earn MWC Weekly Honors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - BYU junior infielder Andrea Ramirez and junior righthander Christi Zinanti have been named Mountain West Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

Ramirez, a native of Simi Valley, Calif., batted .600 over three games during BYU's first homestand of the season. She extended her season-best hitting streak to seven games, and led the squad with six RBI while only playing in three of the Cougars' four games.

"Ramirez has hit her stride," BYU head coach Gordon Eakin said. "She is playing really well and doing a great job driving in runs."

Ramirez went 2-for-3 in the 7-3 win over Boise State, as well as in the 4-0 victory over Idaho State. Her three-run homer against North Dakota sparked a five-run fifth inning against the Fighting Sioux, as BYU defeated UND, 10-4. On the week, the junior had three extra-base hits for a total of 11 bases.

Zinanti, who hails from Pueblo, Colo., threw her first collegiate complete-game no-hitter in the opening game of BYU's doubleheader against North Dakota. Her 11 strikeouts tied her career-best, as the junior earned the 7-0 victory for the Cougars.

"Christie is in a great, competitive place," Eakin said. "She is competing with every pitch and when she plays like that, she is as good as any other pitcher in the country."

Zinanti finished the week 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA after throwing 17 scoreless innings, and picking up her first save of the season against Boise State. After striking out 10 Idaho State batters, and with four strikeouts over three relief innings, Zinanti finished the week with 26 strikeouts, allowing only four hits vs. Idaho State.

The Cougars being MWC play on Thursday at 3 p.m. when they take on Colorado State in Fort Collins, Colo.