Photo Courtesy of Summit League
ELMHURST, Ill. – Fort Wayne’s Hillary Kartman was named The Summit League’s Softball Player of the Week, while North Dakota State’s Krista Menke and South Dakota’s Rachel Cue were tabbed Pitchers of the Week for their performances April 7-13.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Hillary Kartman, Fort Wayne
So. // OF // Fort Wayne, Ind.
Kartman collects her first career Player of the Week award after leading Fort Wayne to a 4-1 record last week with three multi-hit and multi-RBI games. The outfielder was 2-for-3 in both of the Mastodons’ victories over Detroit with two homers, three RBI, three runs and stolen base in game two of the doubleheader. She also homered in the final two league games against Omaha. She added a homer, two RBI and a run scored in the Mastodons’ 3-1 win on Saturday and was 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI and a run despite Sunday’s loss. For the week, Kartman recorded a .467 batting average (7-for-15) with four home runs, eight RBI, five runs, three walks and a stolen base. She also tallied a .556 on-base percentage and a 1.267 slugging percentage.
Also nominated: Roni Patterson, IUPUI; Alex Sobrero, North Dakota State; Campbell Ditto, Omaha; Allie Daly, South Dakota.
Previous honorees: 2/10 – Kayti Hanson, Fort Wayne; 2/17 – Larissa Franklin, Fort Wayne; 2/24 – Amber Lutmer, Omaha; 3/3 – Dani Pugh, Fort Wayne; 3/10 – Amanda Grable, North Dakota State & Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 3/17 – Katie Dinning, South Dakota; 3/24 – Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 3/31 – Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 4/7 – Ali Mosier, IUPUI.
PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Krista Menke, North Dakota State
Jr. // RHP // Friend, Neb.
Menke garners her second-straight Pitcher of the Week honor and fourth this season after throwing a one-hitter and a two-hitter to go undefeated (2-0) against South Dakota State. The Friend, Neb., native tossed a two-hitter with a career-high 13 strikeouts and gave up her lone earned run of the week in the Bison’s 5-1 win over the Jackrabbits. The right-handed hurler then recorded her second one-hitter of the season and third of her career in a shutout in the series finale, retiring eight batters on strikes. For the weekend, Menke struck out 21 batters, while allowing three hits, one earned run and no walks in 12 innings of work for a 0.58 ERA. She held South Dakota State to a .081 batting average.
Rachel Cue, South Dakota
Fr. // RHP // Garden Grove, Calif.
Cue earns her first career Pitcher of the Week award after posting a perfect 2-0 record against Western Illinois without giving up an earned run. The freshman right-hander opened the series with a complete-game 3-2 victory over the Leathernecks. She followed that by shutting out the league’s top offensive team, 2-0 in the series finale, striking out seven, while allowing no walks and three hits. On the weekend, Cue tallied a perfect 0.00 ERA, striking out eight, while yielding eight hits, all singles, and a walk in 14 innings of work.
Also nominated: Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; Jocelyn Oppenhuis, IUPUI; Cheyenne Baxter, Omaha; Hailey Bickford, Western Illinois.
Previous honorees: 2/10 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 2/17 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 2/24 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State & Dana Elsasser, Omaha; 3/3 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne & Cassie Vodde, IUPUI; 3/10 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State & Dana Elsasser, Omaha; 3/17 – Megan Flenniken, Fort Wayne; 3/24 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 3/31 – Megan Flenniken, Fort Wayne; 4/7 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced eight NCAA Champions, 62 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-America selections.
