SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota State softball pitcher Paige Vargas and infielder Carley Goetschius swept the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Peak Pitcher and Performer of the Week accolades, respectively, league officials announced on Monday.
 
Vargas tossed a pair of complete game shutouts against Power 5 schools last week, including a one hitter in a 2-0 victory against receiving votes Mississippi State that featured seven strikeouts and no walks or hit batters.
 
The senior then tossed a six-hit shutout against Purdue two days later and matched a season high with eight strikeouts. Vargas had just one walk allowed against the Boilermakers, bringing her totals for the week to 15 strikeouts, with just one walk and seven total hits allowed with no runs allowed.
 
Goetschius hit .500 in four games on the week, including three games against Power 5 schools, helping the Bison to a 3-1 week. Goetschius went 6-for-12 at the plate with a pair of walks, finishing with a .571 on base percentage.
 
Goetschius tied a school record with three doubles in a game, helping her finish the week slugging .750. She also finished with four RBIs and had three runs scored, accounting for seven of the Bison's 14 runs.
 
It's the fourth-straight week the Bison have had a peak performer/pitcher, and the first sweep of the awards for NDSU. Vargas picks up her third career honor and second this season, as she started the streak on February 27. Goetschius joins Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage (3/6) and Bella Dean (3/13) as first-time honorees this season.
 
Vargas, Goetschius and the rest of the Bison will open up Summit League play this week, as NDSU travels to Kansas City for a three-game series on March 25-26.