RICHARDSON, Texas – For the second time this season, St. Mary's University catcher
Izabella Valdez has been awarded Lone Star Conference Freshman of the Week honors, the league announced Monday.
Valdez, a freshman from San Antonio, hit a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one against Texas A&M-Kingsville for the 7-6 Rattlers' win, then powered a three-run shot in the bottom of the sixth in game one against Texas A&M International to lift StMU to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory. The freshman drove in nine of St. Mary's 22 runs over the four-game weekend, posted a pair of multi-hit games, and reached base in three of the four outings.
This is her second weekly honor, as she also earned the award on March 3 after the team's four-game sweep on the road at UT Permian Basin and Sul Ross State. Valdez played in 43 of the team's 55 games, starting in 27 in her inaugural season. She hit .317 with four doubles and three home runs, with two coming in the final week.
