Chippewa Valley Times

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire's Paige Lathrop has been recognized as the Division III Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week. This marks the first time a Blugold player has received this national honor from the NFCA since Sarah Fern in 2013.

Lathrop played a key role in helping her team remain unbeaten at the Space Coast Games, extending their winning streak to 12 games. Over six games, she achieved a batting average of .727, with 16 hits out of 22 at-bats. She scored 12 runs, hit one double and two triples, drove in seven runs, and stole four bases. Notably, she had multiple hits in each game.

During the team's trip to Florida, Lathrop excelled by going 10-for-11 in her final three games held in Cocoa Beach. She contributed three hits against Millikin on March 20, four hits against Hamilton on March 21, and finished with a perfect 3-for-3 performance against Rutgers-Newark later that day. Across these last three games, she drove in six runs.

As a result of her performance, Lathrop's season batting average has risen to .525, leading her team with 31 hits this season.

The Blugolds are scheduled to play again on Tuesday, March 25, with a doubleheader against the University of Northwestern (Minn.) at Sonnentag Fieldhouse. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m.

For more updates on the Blugolds throughout the season, visit Blugolds.com or follow them on their app Blugold Sports and social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.