DENVER – For her efforts at the Troy Cox Classic, Merina Ili won WAC Hitter of the Week as announced by the league on Monday. NM State has won the award the first two weeks of the season.

Ili was also named the Madness WAC Softball Player of the Week for her exceptional performance during the past week's action. College Sports Madness identifies the players who have made the greatest impact to their team from each conference and on a national basis each week. 

"Merina has all the tools to be a middle of the order hitter for us," said associate head coach Catherine Heifner. "As she gains confidence in that role, she will be a force to contend with."

Ili played the designated player position for the Aggies in their first four games of the Troy Cox Classic. She hit .583 over four games with three doubles and her first home run in a New Mexico State uniform. She had seven RBI and posted a 1.083 slugging percentage and .615 on-base percentage.

In a run-rule victory over Northern Colorado, Ili doubled and homered, driving in four runs. The following day against DePaul, she had a pair of doubles.

New Mexico State takes on Tennessee on Monday, February 20, at 6 p.m. to close the Troy Cox Classic.