NDSU athletes earn POTW honors

North Dakota State's Maritza Lopez-Portillo and Whitney Johnson were named The Summit League's Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, sharing the honors with Fort Wayne's Brittany Kachur and Miranda Kramer, for their performances Feb. 25-March 3.

Lopez-Portillo earns her first career Player of the Week award after helping the Bison defeat No. 23/24 Georgia and hitting the game-winning homer against Indiana State. The San Diego, Calif., native went a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles, a RBI and a run in the 8-0 win over Radford. She then helped her team shutout Georgia, NDSU's first regular-season win over a nationally-ranked opponent and third overall, adding a hit and a RBI.

In NDSU's weekend finale, the junior outfielder blasted the game-winning three-run homer in the fifth inning, giving the Bison a 4-2 win over Indiana State. On the week, Lopez-Portillo tallied a .571 batting average (4-for-7), 1.286 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage. She added five RBI, three extra-base hits, two doubles, a home run and two runs scored.

Johnson garners her second Pitcher of the Week honor this season and the eighth of her career after throwing a no-hitter and a one-hit shutout, including a win over No. 23/24 Georgia. The senior recorded her second career no-hitter with an 8-0 shutout over Radford. That same day, she posted her second-straight shutout and 17th career one-hitter in a 3-0 win over Georgia, marking NDSU's first regular-season win over a nationally-ranked team and third overall.

Johnson's two shutouts marked the 27th and 28th of her career. In her only loss of the weekend, the right-handed hurler fanned 14 batters vs. Indiana State. For the weekend, Johnson went 2-1 with 24 strike outs, while yielding six hits and four earned runs for a 1.53 ERA. She kept the opposing teams to a .100 batting average.

North Dakota State is scheduled to play five games at the Long Beach State Invitational from Friday, Mar. 8, to Sunday, Mar. 10.

NDSU’s Ernst Named Summit League Pitcher of the Week ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State right-hander David Ernst was named Summit League baseball Pitcher of the Week by the league office Monday, March 4. Ernst, a sophomore from Fargo, N.D., pitched his first career complete game and shutout in a 5-0 win at Tennessee-Martin. He had a career-high four strikeouts and allowed three singles and two walks in seven innings. It was Ernst's first career Pitcher of the Week award and NDSU's third straight. John Straka was selected Feb. 18 and 25. South Dakota State third baseman Andrew Melton was named Player of the Week after the Jackrabbits won 2 of 3 at Mississippi Valley State. He hit .500 with two doubles, an RBI, three walks and four runs scored. North Dakota State (4-5) is scheduled to play eight games on its annual spring break trip to the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational in the Winter Haven area March 9-18.