Arizona softball has played in the Big 12 for two weeks. A Wildcat has taken the conference player of the week award both times after Miranda Stoddard was named both Big 12 Player of the Week and NFCA Player of the Week on Tuesday morning. She was also designated a Star of the Week by Softball America.
Outfielder Kaiah Altmeyer was the Big 12 Player of the Week for the season’s opening week.
Stoddard had amazing numbers at the plate in five games during the Bear Down Fiesta. She went 10 for 12, accruing an .833 batting average. Six of her 10 hits were home runs. Four of them came in a doubleheader against South Alabama, giving her back-to-back multi-homer games. She added a triple to her power numbers. She also had four walks and a sacrifice fly. That worked out to a 2.500 slugging percentage and a .933 on-base percentage.
“Those are crazy numbers that she put up and just has been locked in the plate kind of throughout January,” said Arizona head coach Caitlin Lowe. “And then it was great to see her just trying to settle into being herself. She took some singles on Sunday because that’s what the pitcher was giving her, and when she got her pitch, she did damage. And it’s exciting, and she’s just been steady for us. And I know people are looking at the offense, but on the mound, she was great, too, to start the weekend.”
Stoddard pitched 4.1 innings against South Alabama on the opening day of the tournament. She gave up three hits and three earned runs while striking out four. She also hit one batter.
Stoddard said she had been playing in the field more than pitching her final season at Kentucky. Last year, Arizona’s injuries in the bullpen required her to focus on pitching. She had just one plate appearance. This year, she’s balancing the demands of both.
“When you’re in the circle and you’re hitting, it feels like you have more control over the game, of course, and so I think that that’s a little bit different,” Stoddard said. “But either way, it’s super important to just kind of separate what you’re doing on the field and in the box, for better or worse. Obviously, I had a good weekend in the box, so that’s always good, but even when I’m not doing well, it’s just important to be able to separate those two things and not take any negative feelings on the field.”
For the season, Stoddard is hitting .611 with a 2.374 OPS. Both stats lead the team, as do her six home runs and 31 total bases. She is three home runs ahead of teammates Sydney Stewart, Devyn Netz, and Jenna Sniffen for the team high.
She has made four appearances in the circle for the Wildcats this season, including as their opening day starter. She has a 1.75 ERA in 16 IP. She has not given up a home run and has only surrendered one extra-base hit. She has struck out eight and walked just one. She has also hit two batters and given up two sacrifice flies.
Stoddard’s innings pitched are second on the team behind Netz, who has 20. Her ERA is also second, trailing reliever Saya Swain, who sports a 1.47 ERA. Stoddard’s 0.75 WHIP leads all pitchers who have qualifying numbers (i.e. have pitched at least one inning per game) and are second overall.
Lead photo by Madison Farwell / Arizona Athletics