LATROBE, Pa. – Penn State Altoona softball's junior outfielder/right-handed pitcher Riley Best (Coalport, PA/Glendale) was announced as the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference's Player of the Week on Monday afternoon.

Best had a big week for the Lions, both at the plate and in the circle, to help the softball team go 6-2 across its last eight games in the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic.

In Penn State Altoona's wins over Mitchell College and Gwynedd Mercy University last Monday, March 9, Best combined to hit 5-for-8 with two doubles, one triple, four runs scored, three RBI, and a stolen base. In a Wednesday, March 11 split with Martin Luther College and Delaware Valley University, the junior was 1-for-6 with a home run, three RBI, two runs scored, and a walk.

On Thursday, March 12, Best hit 1-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored in a split with the University of Valley Forge and Albion College. The slugger finished her week with a big showing on Friday, March 13, combining to go 5-for-7 with two doubles, three walks, five runs scored, and seven RBI in victories over Cedar Crest College and Bridgewater State University.

In eight games last week, Best hit .462 (12-for-26) with 15 RBI, 12 runs scored, four doubles, one triple, one home run, and one stolen base. She compiled a .548 on-base percentage and a .808 slugging percentage while collecting 21 bases.

Best also had a strong week in the pitching circle, going 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA and a 0.57 WHIP. The junior tossed 12 1/3 innings and struck out 12 batters across three appearances versus Mitchell, Martin Luther, and Valley Forge.

This is the second week in a row that Best, who is in her first year with the Penn State Altoona softball program, has earned AMCC Player of the Week honors.

Penn State Altoona softball is scheduled to get back in action this Thursday, March 19, in a 3 p.m. road doubleheader at non-conference opponent Juniata College.