Quiroga Wins First POW Award

Oskaloosa–Valeria Quiroga (Fr., San Benito, Texas, Sociology) put on a power display last week as she was named Heart of America Athletic Conference Softball Player of the Week Monday.

Quiroga won her first career weekly laurel by hitting four home runs, while the Statesmen went 3-3 on the week.

The freshman was hitless in her first game against Peru State on Friday, but then erupted in the nightcap, leaving the park three times in the victory. Her three roundtrippers set a new single-game school record (since 1999). In the win, she produced four RBIs.

Quiroga extended the run of consecutive homers to four in Saturday’s opener against Mount Mercy. She also drew two walks in that contest as part of six total base on balls during the week. Her streak of reaching base hit nine before being snapped Saturday.

The third baseman finished the week with a pair of two-hit performances versus Clarke.

For the week, Quiroga hit .600 (9-for-15) with four home runs, one double, eight RBIs, and six runs scored. Her slugging percentage was a gawdy 1.467 and her on-base clip was also incredibly high at .714.

Quiroga currently owns a .434 batting average (23-for-53, five doubles) with seven home runs, 16 RBIs, and 14 runs scored. She has also walked 12 times, upping her on-base mark to .538, while her slugging percentage is .925. The freshman is riding a five-game hitting streak and has reached base in 15 of her 18 outings.

The award is the first for William Penn this year.