SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento State outfielder Lafulafu Malepeai, and right-hander Alexa Ortiz have been named the Big Sky Conference Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively. 

A Hornet pitcher has now received the honor all four weeks of the season, and Ortiz has won it three times. In addition, a Hornet position player has won the player of the week honor twice in the last three weeks as Malepeai joins Katie Marsh (Feb. 16).

Both Malepeai and Ortiz helped lead Sacramento State (16-4) to a 4-2 record last week. That included wins against Pacific, Santa Clara, San Jose State and Sacred Heart, and losses to San Jose State and Nevada. 

MALEPEAI

The outfielder hit four home runs in six games while batting .438 (7-for-16) with a .609 on-base percentage and 1.375 slugging percentage. She scored six runs, tallied eight RBIs, and six of her seven hits went for extra bases (four homers, a double and a triple). In addition, she did not commit an error in the outfield.

The South San Francisco, Calif., native had at least on RBI, and reached base safely in at least two plate appearances, in five of the six games.

Against Nevada, who is ranked sixth in the Mid-Major top 25 poll, Malepeai reached base in all four plate appearances, going 2-for-2 with two walks, two runs, a triple, homer and three RBIs. She also homered against Pacific, Santa Clara and San Jose State. She had 22 total bases during the week, and started all six games in left field.

Malepeai is now hitting .361 with team highs in home runs (7), RBIs (21), runs (16), extra base hits (12), slugging percentage (.820), walks (16), and on-base percentage (.494). She has yet to commit an error this season.

ORTIZ

In two appearances (both starts), Ortiz had a 1.40 ERA, and opponents hit just .148 when she was in the circle. In 15.0 innings, Ortiz allowed eight hits (one extra base hit) with 14 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP. She was 1-1, beating Sacred Heart, and was the unlucky losing pitcher to San Jose State despite throwing a three-hit shutout through seven innings before the Hornets lost in the eighth.

Against Sacred Heart, the Chandler, Ariz., native allowed three hits and two runs with seven strikeouts over seven innings in the Hornets' 3-2 win. The loss to San Jose State saw her throw a career-high eight innings, allowing five hits and two runs (one earned) with seven strikeouts. The tiebreaker rule in the eighth inning had a big effect on Ortiz allowing a pair of runs in the 2-0 loss.

For the season, she is now 5-2 with a 1.10 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. Opponents are hitting .143, and she has 53 strikeouts in 51.0 innings.