TUCSON, Ariz. – Junior shortstop Mo Mercado was named Pac-12 Player of the Week for the opening weekend of the 2016 season, conference commissioner Larry Scott announced on Wednesday.

Arizona outscored its opponents 63-12 at the Hillenbrand Invitational, partly due to the weekend put together by Mo Mercado, who hit four home runs and drove in 11 runs in the six games. Mercado slugged 1.421 thanks to four home runs and three doubles, accounting for seven of her team-high-tying 12 hits on the weekend. The junior hit .632 and scored eight runs while putting together a perfect defensive weekend at her new position, shortstop.

Mercado, who hit six home runs in 2015, hit her fourth home run of 2015 on April 25, the 49th game of the season for Arizona. This year, it took Mercado, who occupied the cleanup spot in Arizona's lineup all weekend, just six games to blast four home runs, including two on Sunday vs. UC Santa Barbara.

The honor is the first of Mercado's career and the 148th in Arizona history.

Washington's Taran Alvelo was named the Pac-12 pitcher of the week while Oregon State's Meehra Nelson was selected as the freshman of the week. Arizona nominated Danielle O'Toole and Taylor McQuillin for the two awards, respectively.

Up Next: Competition ramps up for the Wildcats next week as UA heads to Palm Springs, California Feb. 19-21 for the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. A trio of ranked opponents (No. 4 LSU, No. 15 UCF and No. 25 Texas A&M) await Arizona along with Cal Poly and Central Michigan. The Cats commence the event with the fourth-ranked Tigers at 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

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