Texas Longhorns senior catcher Reese Atwood was named Softball America’s Defender of the Week, according to a March 31 announcement. This is Atwood’s second national weekly honor this season and her first since receiving D1Softball’s National Player of the Week in February.
Atwood previously earned recognition as the Southeastern Conference’s Player of the Week in early February. She has also received other honors this season, including being named D1Softball’s National Player of the Week and, along with junior pitcher Teagan Kavan, contributing to Texas’ total of three national weekly awards so far.
During a recent four-game stretch, Atwood helped guide Texas to a 3-1 record that included a series win over No. 15 Texas A&M from March 27-29. Her defensive performance featured several standout plays behind the plate, such as a no-look pickoff at third base against Texas A&M on March 27. Over those games, she recorded 22 putouts and three assists without an error and threw out two attempted base stealers.
Atwood currently holds a .988 fielding percentage for the season and has not allowed any passed balls. Offensively during those four games, she posted five hits—including three home runs—four runs batted in (RBI), three runs scored, one walk, one stolen base and fourteen total bases while hitting .385.
For the season through 33 games, Atwood is batting .393 with a .944 slugging percentage and has collected 35 hits, fourteen home runs and forty-four RBI. She shares team leadership in RBI with junior Katie Stewart while ranking second on her team for home runs and third for hits. Nationally among active NCAA players, Atwood leads in career RBI with 266 while standing second in both career home runs (69) and total bases (495).
Looking ahead, Atwood and top-ranked Texas will travel to face No. 5 Alabama from April 2-4 at Rhoads Stadium.
