OKLAHOMA CITY — San José State first baseman Jessie Hufstetler (Atascadero, Calif.) has been selected as the Week 8 USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced today. The senior Spartan batted .571 (12-for-21) with 12 RBI, eight runs scored with nine extra-base hits over a six-game stretch last week, which also earned her Mountain West Player of the Week accolades.
“A few weeks ago, with the help of Assistant Coach Chase Turner, I made a couple of small changes in my swing,” said Hufstetler. “I started seeing the results in the last couple of games in the preseason and it really took hold during both series last week. I’ve been seeing the ball well all year, but it all seemed to click against UNLV and Colorado State. As a young player you always dream about winning a national award or something similar, but when it happens it is a shock. There are so many incredible players in college softball. To be recognized among them is very humbling and I am very grateful. I wouldn’t be in a position to earn this recognition without the support of my teammates and our entire coaching staff. Although one person is presented the award, it takes an entire team working together to make this possible. We are trying to win games as a team. This honor is icing on the cake of a good week for our team.”
In a three-game sweep of UNLV, Hufstetler reached safely in over half her at-bats, going 5-for-9 (.556) at the plate while scoring four times and driving in four runs. Highlighted by two triples in the Spartans 6-3 victory in the series finale, Hufstetler also picked up two doubles in a 9-1 (five inning) win in game two of the series. Hufstetler continued that momentum in a Mountain West road-series at Colorado State, where the first baseman was 7-for-12 (.583), picking up eight RBI while crossing the plate four times. She had a pair of doubles in the series opener and blasted two three-run home runs in the series-clinching finale.
“Jessie started the season slowly, but we knew it was just a matter of time before she got locked in and started really pounding the ball,” said San José State Head Coach Peter Turner. “She never doubted the process and just kept working every day to get better. I think it’s safe to say her slump is over. Now, and this week in particular, she produced at a level that both she and our staff are accustom to seeing.”
For the week, Hufstetler collected a .565 on-base percentage while amassing a 1.333 slugging percentage. With her 12 hits on the week, Hufstetler moves into third place in the Spartan softball program’s all-time hits list.
This marks the first USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week honors for Hufstetler and is the first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week honors for an athlete from San José State.
2016 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 11-14): Lexie Elkins – Louisiana-Lafayette - Senior - Catcher – Victoria, Texas
Week 2 (Feb. 15-21): Jailyn Ford – James Madison - Senior - Pitcher – Hot Springs, Va.
Week 3 (Feb. 22-28): Sierra Hyland – Cal Poly - Junior - Pitcher – Visalia, Calif.
Co-Week 4 (Feb. 29-March 6): Molly Hutchison – NC State - Junior – C/OF – San Diego, Calif.
Co-Week 4 (Feb. 29-March 6): Sierra Romero – Michigan - Senior - Infield – Murrieta, Calif.
Week 5 (March 7-13): Bianka Bell – LSU - Senior - Infield – Tampa, Fla.
Week 6 (March 14-20): Hannah Day – Troy - Senior - Outfield – Crestview, Fla.
Week 7 (March 21-27): Holly Speers – Kent State - Sophomore - Infield – Surrey, B.C.
Week 8 (March 28-April 3): Jessie Hufstetler – San Jose State - Senior - Infield – Atascadero, Calif.
About ASA/USA Softball
Founded in 1933, the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball is the National Governing Body of Softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. One of the nation’s largest sports organizations, ASA/USA Softball sanctions competition in every state through a network of 70 local associations and has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.2 million. ASA/USA is responsible for training, equipping and promoting the six USA Softball National Teams that compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles as well as claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about ASA/USA Softball, please visit http://www.asausasoftball.com.
About the NCAA Women’s College World Series
ASA Hall of Fame Stadium – OGE Energy Field serves as the home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS). For the 26th year, the top eight college teams in the nation will head to Oklahoma City and compete for a national championship. Last year, over 78,000 fans attended the WCWS. Be there to Share The Experience with softball fans from across the country June 2-8 in Oklahoma City. Tickets for the 2016 NCAA WCWS are on sale now, click here to purchase your tickets and secure your championship experience!