RENO, Nev.–  University of Nevada junior shortstop Lauren Gutierrez was named Mountain West Softball Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
 
"Lauren has proven to be one of the finest shortstops in the country," said Nevada head coach Josh Taylor. "Her steady play on defense and ability to always provide the team with quality at-bats has proven to be a leading force on both sides of the ball."
 
Gutierrez batted .562 (9-16) in five games at the Dixie State Classic on Feb. 19-21, leading Nevada to wins over No. 2 Washington, Dixie State and Montana.
 
The Upland, Calif., native played errorless defense all weekend with nine assists and five putouts.
 
Gutierrez went 2-for-3 at the plate against No. 2 Washington with a single, double, walk and clutch RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to extend Nevada's lead to 7-5. Gutierrez had a career-best hitting performance in Nevada's 13-0 victory over Dixie State. Against the Trailblazers, Gutierrez went 4-for-4 at the plate, tallying a career-high four hits and tying her career-high in RBIs with five. Gutierrez recorded Nevada's lone hit against BYU on Feb. 20. Gutierrez went 2-for-3 at bat with her sixth-career home run, 2 RBIs and a run in Nevada's 6-5 victory over Montana.
 
This is Gutierrez's second weekly honor and the second of the season for Nevada. Gutierrez was the last Nevada softball player to earn Player of the Week honors when she tabbed the award on May 15, 2018.  Sophomore pitcher Kendall Fritz was named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 16.
 
Nevada travels to Stockton, Calif., on Feb. 26-27 for the Libby Matson Classic. The Pack faces Pacific and Idaho State.