CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) – Georgia Tech's Mallorie Black was named this week's Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Player of the Week, while Duke's Cassidy Curd earned her second Pitcher of the Week honor of the season following the seventh week of competition.
Black hit five home runs and tallied 11 RBI over Georgia Tech's week to reclaim her lead in the ACC with home runs and 52 RBI after becoming the first player in the league to eclipse 50 RBI this season. She set a new career high with seven RBI against Louisiana Tech, hitting a three-run blast in the sixth inning before launching a grand slam in the seventh. The native of Cumming, Georgia, recorded a home run in all four of her games over the course of the week, including two in the first inning against Troy on Wednesday and game one at Auburn. Black went 6-for-9 with three home runs, a double and eight RBI in the Jackets' two games on Saturday versus Louisiana Tech and at Auburn to finish the week with a .500 batting average and a 1.389 slugging percentage.
Curd registered a 2-0 weekend with a 0.00 ERA after earning the start in two of Duke's four games last week. In her two appearances, the sophomore tossed 9.1 scoreless innings, allowing just four hits and a walk with 19 strikeouts, while holding her opponents to a .121 batting average. Curd picked up her first win in the midweek contest against Charlotte after working 4.1 scoreless innings, surrendering just two hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. She made her second appearance on Saturday, tossing a complete game shutout as the Blue Devils run-ruled North Carolina, 8-0, in five innings to clinch the series. The Port St. Lucie, Fla., native fanned a career-high 12 batters during the contest and allowing only three Tar Heels to reach base on a walk, single and a double.
Duke is ranked No. 3 in the nation in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. Virginia Tech is No. 15, followed by Florida State at No. 18 and Clemson at No. 19. Virginia is receiving votes.
The Blue Devils earned their first No. 1 ranking in program history in this week's Softball America poll.
2024 ACC Softball Player of the Week
Feb. 13 - Rachel Castine, Jr., Virginia Tech
Feb. 20 - Mallorie Black, Sr., Georgia Tech
Feb. 27 - Sanaa Thompson, Fr., North Carolina
March 5 - Lexi Godwin, Gr., North Carolina
March 12 - Emma Ritter, Sr., Virginia Tech
March 19 - Claire Davidson, Sr., Duke
March 26 - Cameron Fagan, Sr., Virginia Tech
April 2 - Aminah Vega, So., Duke
April 9 - Mallorie Black, Sr., Georgia Tech
2024 ACC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 13 - Jala Wright, Sr., Duke
Feb. 20 - Rylee Wyman, NC State
Feb. 27 - Eden Bigham, Si., Virginia
March 5 - Jala Wright, Sr., Duke
March 12 - Cassidy Curd, So., Duke
March 19 - Regan Spencer, Sr., Clemson
March 26 - Madison Harris, Sr., Virginia
April 2 - Regan Spencer, Sr., Clemson
April 9 - Cassidy Curd, So., Duke