University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Criket Blanco was named the Southern Conference Player of the Week for all games played April 18-24, the league announced Monday. This is her first weekly honor from the conference.

Over the last five games, Blanco boasted a team-best .500 batting average, eight runs, eight RBI and seven hits, including three doubles and three home runs. She had 14 at bats with no strikeouts. At second base, Blanco also went unblemished with a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Blanco started the week off with a strong performance at Tennessee Tech. Her first home run of the game tied it up 2-2. Then, she blasted a two-run homer to give the Mocs the lead 4-2, helping UTC to a 6-2 win. Against Tennessee State, Blanco hit two doubles, batting in four, while scoring one run.

As a 2016 Preseason First Team All-SoCon selection, Blanco leads the team with 31 RBI and 77 total bases. She has a .333 batting average, in addition to 17 runs and 42 hits, including 12 doubles and five home runs.

MOCS HEAD TO UAB ON TUESDAY
The Chattanooga Mocs softball team travels to Birmingham, Ala., for a contest with UAB on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. UTC is 26-22 and 6-6 in Southern Conference action after winning the series with Mercer 2-1 over the weekend in Frost Stadium.

Chattanooga is coming off a busy week, playing two in-state opponents and a three-game series with the Bears.

UTC's offense was a highlight throughout the last five games with five Mocs hitting a .400 batting average or better. UTC also hit seven home runs.

The Blazers lead the all-time series 14-10. Chattanooga won the last meeting 13-0 at the Plainsman Invitational in Auburn, Ala., on Feb. 7, 2015. The squads were also scheduled to play a doubleheader in Frost Stadium on April 16, 2015, but it was canceled due to rain.

UAB is 22-24 and 12-6 in Conference USA play. Last weekend the squad swept UTEP in El Paso, Texas. Blazer Mary Warren hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to help UAB beat the Miners 4-2 on Sunday.

The Blazers have faced one SoCon opponent this season, dropping a 6-1 contest at Samford on March 2.

Check the softball schedule page on GoMocs.com for links to live stats and video.