Pucci and Sharda Named UAA Athletes of the Week

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - Carnegie Mellon University senior Haley Pucci and freshman Riya Sharda were honored as University Athletic Association (UAA) Softball Athletes of the Week for their performances during a 5-0 week for the Tartans. The award is the first for both players and third and fourth for the program this year.

Pucci had a 0.00 ERA with a 3-0 record for the week as the Tartans topped La Roche University twice and swept the three-game series with NYU. Pucci opened the week with a career-tying eight strikeouts in a 14-3 five-inning win at La Roche. She then collected two shutouts in the series with NYU, allowing a total of four hits with 12 strikeouts in 11 innings of work, including a complete game 4-0 win to start the series. Pucci also collected her first career hit in her second career at bat in the 17-0 win to close the weekend.

Sharda hit .813 with 13 hits in 16 at bats through five games for the Tartans. Batting second in the lineup, Sharda reached base an additional two times via a walk and scored 12 runs while knocking in four. She had four multi-hit games with a hit and a sacrifice bunt in the fifth game. She recorded a double and a triple with three RBIs in the team's 17-0 win against NYU to end the weekend.

The Tartans return to the field on Friday, April 24 at eighth-ranked Washington University in St. Louis.