April 25, 2005

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Player of the Week
Megan Higginbotham, Minnesota 
So., C, Tallahassee, Fla./Lawton Chiles
Higginbotham claims her second consecutive Big Ten Player of the Week accolade after batting .583 (7-for-12) with four RBI, a home run and three stolen bases last weekend. In the Gophers' 5-4 win over Indiana, she hit a solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish the game with a 1.000 batting average (3-for-3) and two RBI. Higginbotham followed with another stellar game against Purdue, batting 3-for-4 with three runs, two RBI and a stolen base. The Tallahassee, Fla., native has been solid for the Gophers in the last eight games, batting .731 (19-for-26) with 12 RBI, nine runs scored and three home runs.

Pitcher of the Week
Diana LaRiva, Purdue 
Jr., P, Tustin, Calif./Tustin
LaRiva was named Pitcher of the Week after posting a 3-0 record last week, while tallying a 0.95 ERA  and giving up only three earned runs in four appearances last week. The Tustin, Calif., native struck out six in three innings of relief work against Valparaiso. In game two, LaRiva then allowed just one hit against the Crusaders in seven innings before the contest was called due to darkness. Despite 25 mph winds and bitter cold, LaRiva tossed a complete game effort against Wisconsin on Saturday, striking out five en route to a 10-4 win. She wrapped up the weekend with a one-hitter against Minnesota and fanned three in the five-inning victory to finish with a total of 20 strikeouts on the week. LaRiva earns her third Big Ten weekly accolade of the season as she was also honored on February 15 and March 14.