SACRAMENTO -- Junior Alexa Ortiz has been named the Big Sky Conference Pitcher of the Week for the fifth time this season, it was announced today by the league office.

The right-hander helped the Hornets to a three-game home sweep of Portland State to conclude the Big Sky Conference regular season. In her only appearance, she threw a two-hit shutout while walking one and striking out seven. She faced just five batters over the minimum while throwing 111 pitches.

The Chandler, Ariz., native did not allow a runner past second base the entire game, and did not allow a runner past first base until a Hornet error in the sixth inning pushed a runner to second. 

Ortiz has now been named conference pitcher of the week five times this season (Feb. 9, Feb. 23, March 2, April 6) - the most by a Hornet since Marissa Bertuccio also won the award five times in 2023.

Ortiz is now 10-8 with a 2.85 ERA, nine complete games, two shutouts, and 96 strikeouts in 100.2 innings pitched. 

The Hornets (30-17, 9-6) conclude the regular season with a road matchup at Stanford on Friday before opening the Big Sky Tournament on Monday of next week in Pocatello, Idaho.