Courtesy of Conference USA
IRVING, Texas – WKU’s Miranda Kramer earned her second consecutive C-USA Pitcher of the Week award and her third of the season after a pair of complete-game victories over the past week, including a 14-strikeout performance on the road against No. 14 Tennessee. Marshall’s Shaelynn Braxton won C-USA Player of the Week honors after she mashed a grand slam against Ohio as part of a nine RBI week that saw the junior bat .500 in 12 trips to the plate.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
MIRANDA KRAMER, WKU | SR., WEST BURLINGTON, IOWA
Kramer was once again phenomenal in the circle, totaling 30 strikeouts with just four hits allowed with a 1.00 ERA. Kramer held opponents to a .095 batting average. The senior notched her second win against a top-25 opponent this season, throwing a two-hit, 14-strikeout performance at No. 14 Tennessee. The Iowa product allowed a triple in the third inning before a single in centerfield later in the game. Outside of the hits, UT had just three other baserunners off of walks. Kramer brought it again in game one at Ball State, allowing two hits with 16 strikeouts in the win. Against the Cardinals, Kramer did not allow a baserunner until the fourth inning and a hit until the fifth, with the two runs scored coming late in the seventh frame. Kramer now has 11 double-digit strikeout games this season and 44 in her career. This week’s games brought her to eight outings this year where she has given up 0-2 hits, now totaling 32 in her career. It is the senior’s third pitcher of the week honor this season and her first solo honor after sharing the award the first two times.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SHAELYNN BRAXTON, MARSHALL | JR., WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA
Braxton’s offensive firepower helped propel the Thundering Herd this past week to a 2-2 mark. The Woodbridge, Virginia, native hit .500 on the weekend, going 6-12 with nine RBI and three runs scored. The junior also had one home run during the week, a grand slam against Ohio. Against the Bobcats, Braxton went 3-4 with six RBI and two runs scored, plus a stolen base. In the second game of the series against Charlotte, Braxton went 2-3 with three RBI. For the week, she also posted a .917 slugging percentage and hit two doubles. A six RBI game is nothing new for Braxton as the junior tied for the C-USA single-game record in 2014 after knocking in eight against Northern Kentucky. It is the second C-USA weekly honor in Braxton’s career. Her first came on April 8, 2013.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
F9 Taylor Schoblocher, North Texas
F16 Morgan Zerkle, Marshall
F23 Megan Low, UTSA | Krysta Tutsch, LA Tech
M2 Sara Beth Williamson, UAB
M9 Ashley Eldridge, UTEP | Morgan Zerkle, Marshall
M16 Pauline Tufi, LA Tech
M23 Shaelynn Braxton, Marshall
PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
F9 Miranda Kramer, WKU | Jordan Dixon, Marshall
F16 Amanda Wilson, Florida Atlantic
F23 Madison Thompson, North Texas
M3 Cara Goodwin, UAB
M9 Amanda Wilson, Florida Atlantic
