College Softball News

MAC Announces Softball Players and Pitchers of the Week

Photo Courtesy of the MAC

MAC East Player of the Week

Sammi Gallardo, Buffalo, Infielder

Senior, Chula Vista, CA/Otay Ranch

Senior Sammi Gallardo batted .421 in UB’s six games this past week, as she hit six home runs, setting the single-season home run record with 11.  Gallardo slugged an impressive 1.421 as she finished with eight hits, seven of those for extra bases.  Gallardo became so unstoppable at the plate that she was intentionally walked three times over the weekend in the series with Eastern Michigan.  Twice during the week, Gallardo had multi-home run games, marking the first time in school history that a player has had more than one multi-home run game in the same season and she is only the second player to do it in her Buffalo career.  Gallardo has now hit 25 home runs in her career, just two shy of the all-time school record.

 

MAC East Pitcher of the Week

Erin Seiler, Akron, P

Sophomore, Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic 

Erin Seiler picked up three complete game victories last week to improve her record to 12-4 on the season. She struck out 20 in 27 innings of work, posting an ERA of 1.81 in five appearances. In a non-conference matchup with Youngstown State, Seiler allowed just one earned run and four hits. She followed that up with a solid performance in a win over East Division foe Bowling Green, striking out nine Falcons and giving up only two hits. The sophomore retired 12 of the first 13 BGSU batters she faced, and carried a no-hitter through five innings. In Akron’s series finale against Toledo, Seiler retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced to register her team-leading 14th complete game in 18 starts. 

 

MAC West Player of the Week

Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State, LF

Year, Hometown/Previous School: Senior, McKinney, Texas/McKinney

It was another benchmark-setting week for Ball State senior left fielder Jennifer Gilbert who climbed into the top 10 on the NCAA Division I career home run list, at 71, and became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to score 200 career runs … In helping guide the Cardinals to a 4-1 record for the week, Gilbert blasted four home runs and three doubles, while batting .571 (8-for-14) and posting a 1.643 slugging percentage … In Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory at Purdue, Gilbert launched a pair of homers, including a game-winning solo shot to lead off the seventh inning … Gilbert tallied her 70th career home run in Ball State’s 7-4 win at Northern Illinois, while blasting her 71st career round-tripper in the Cardinals’ 5-2 victory at Western Michigan … Later in the same game versus the Broncos, Gilbert became the first player in league history to cross the plate 200 times, when she reached base on a sixth-inning walk and eventually came around to score on a groundout from classmate Taylor Rager … Prior to Gilbert, the previous MAC record for career runs scored was 167 set by former Ball State four-year letterwinner Lisa Rozanski (2008-11).

 

MAC West Co-Pitcher of the Week

Kelsey Schifferdecker, Ball State, P

Sophomore, Belton, Mo./Belton

Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker turned in a pair of strong pitching performances over the weekend, picking up complete game victories at Northern Illinois and Western Michigan … In Saturday’s win at WMU, Schifferdecker limited the Broncos to just one run and three hits, while posting seven total strikeouts, which is one shy of her career-high.

 

Morgan Yuncker, Central Michigan, Pitcher 

Senior, Beal City, Mich. (Beal City HS)

Yuncker improved to 8-1 on the season with a 7-2 win on Saturday at Kent State in seven innings pitched. The senior pitched 5.2 innings Friday to MAC foe Buffalo only giving up one hit in the loss. Over the weekend the hard-throwing right hander struck out seven batters and gave up four runs for the Chippewas. 

 

 

Other Nominees:

Shawna Mailloux, Akron, OF

Sophomore, Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood HS

Shawna Mailloux was impressive at the plate as she led Akron to a 4-2 record last week. The Zips’ leadoff hitter was a combined 10-for-19 over the course of the six games, garnering a .526 batting average. After recording four last week, she now has 11 multi-hit games this season. Mailloux belted her third home run of the year as part of a three-hit effort in a non-league contest against Youngstown State, in the form of a game-tying grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In Akron’s twinbill against Bowling Green, the sophomore went 4-for-7 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. In UA’s 5-2 triumph over Toledo, she was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk and a run. Mailloux posted a combined on-base percentage of .524, striking out only once in 22 plate appearances. She also snagged three bases during MAC play over the weekend, bringing her season total to 18 stolen bases.

 

Tori Speckman, Buffalo, Pitcher

Senior, Alvin, TX/Alvin

Tori Speckman continued her dominating performances for the Bulls as she went 2-0 this past week, pitching in three UB victories.  Speckman had her best performance on Saturday in a 7-0 win over Eastern Michigan, where she allowed just two hits and struck out 10 batters, all via swings and misses.  Speckman opened the weekend with a 5-2 win over Central Michigan, snapping the Chippewa’s seven-game winning streak.  Speckman allowed just five hits in that game and did not surrender a run until the fifth inning.  She struck out four batters in the victory.  She completed the weekend on Sunday with a no decision, pitching the first six innings in an extra-inning victory over EMU.  For the week, Speckman recorded an ERA of just over one, finishing at 1.05.  In 20.0 innings pitched, she had a WHIP of under one, 0.85 and she struck out 17 batters, while walking just six.  In fact, Speckman recorded more strike outs than hits, 17 to 11.  She improved to 13-9 on the season, and is just one victory shy of the all-time single season record.  Speckman now has 160 strikeouts on the year in 151.1 innings pitched.

 

Trista Cox, Central Michigan, 3B

Junior, Canton, Mich. (Louisville)

The junior blasted her ninth homerun of the season on Friday against Buffalo. Cox scored a run in all four of CMU’s games this weekend in addition to adding three hits, one double and two RBIs. She boasts a team-high .362 batting average and .672 slugging percentage on the season. 

 

Abi Clark, Eastern Michigan

Sophomore

Sophomore transfer Abi Clark led the EMU offense in game two against the Bulls, tallying two hits and one RBI in the Eagles nine-inning loss to Buffalo. Clark kept the ball rolling for the Eagles when she tallied the Green and White’s second straight single with a base knock through the right side of the field, plating freshman Taylor Wagner. The Clinton, Mich. native is hitting .224 on the season for the Eagles with 13 hits and four RBI and has posted three hits in conference play and one RBI. 

 

Abbie Minsker, Eastern Michigan, P

Freshman Abbie Minsker made her first appearance for the Eagles in a week, pitching a full seven innings against the University at Buffalo. The freshman hurler started the game for the Green and White before coming back on in relief in the ninth inning. Minsker struck out two batters and walked just two in her seven innings of work despite suffering the loss. The Howell, Mich. native holds a team-best 5.11 ERA on the season in her 24.2 innings in her first season donning the Green and White.

 

Ariele Patterson, Kent State, OF

Junior, Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill

Junior Ariele Patterson continued to swing a hot bat over the weekend, hitting .500 with a home run and two RBI to help Kent State split its weekend series with Central Michigan. Patterson gave the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first inning on Saturday and finished the day with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. On Sunday, she put the Flashes back in the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

 

Emily Naegele, Northern Illinois, C

Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest

Emily Naegele batted .389 in six games this week, well above her season average of .360. She added to her team leading RBI total of 27 with seven RBIs in six games. The Huskie catcher went 7-of-18 from the plate with five extra base hits, including a home run and four doubles. Her best performance of the week came in NIU’s 6-1 win over Miami when she went 1-for-2 with three RBIs.

 

Jessica Sturm, Northern Illinois University, P

Junior, Goddard, Kan./Goddard

Jessica Sturm went 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA in five appearances last week for the Huskies. Her best performance of the week came in the series opener with Ball State when she threw her second complete game shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals. She allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six. Sturm picked up her second win of the week in the series opener with Miami, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings of work. On the week, she allowed 11 runs, six earned, on 21 hits, seven walks, while striking out 13 in 25.1 innings of work. 

 

Alexandria Basquez, Ohio University, INF

Sr., Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove

Basquez put together a huge week at the plate for the Ohio University softball team (23-17, 8-2 MAC), helping the Bobcats go 4-0 in weekend conference play after hitting .313 with five hits – including a team-high three home runs – to go along with a team-high eight RBIs and a team-high .875 slugging percentage over six contests. The senior hit a moonshot home run over the left field wall at Buckeye Field in the third inning of the second game of a doubleheader at Ohio State on Wednesday (April 9). She also coaxed a game-high three walks. Basquez belted a grand slam over the center field scoreboard at the Ohio Softball Field in the second game of a MAC doubleheader against Toledo on Friday (April 11) in which the Bobcats prevailed, 5-4, in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. On Saturday (April 12), she bashed her third home run in four games in the second inning of a 6-0 blanking of Bowling Green. On the season, Basquez is batting .297 with a .523 slugging percentage, 38 hits  — including nine doubles and six home 

 

Savannah Jo Dorsey, Ohio University, Pitcher

So., Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing

Dorsey helped the Ohio University softball team (23-17, 8-2 MAC) put together a perfect 4-0 weekend of Mid-American Conference play, going 3-1 over four appearances and 24.1 innings of work last week in the pitching circle. She struck out 28 while allowing just 10 runs – only four of which were earned – on 21 hits and five walks. Dorsey also enjoyed success at the plate, batting .263 with five hits – including two home runs – to go along with three RBIs. Dorsey twirled a shutout as Ohio blanked Toledo, 6-0, in game one of a doubleheader on Friday (April 11) at the Ohio Softball Field. She tossed seven frames of six-hit ball, striking out eight. Dorsey sent an RBI single into left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the Bobcats to a 5-4 walk-off win over Toledo in game two of the Friday doubleheader. Dorsey tossed her second shutout in as many days as Ohio shut down Bowling Green, 6-0, in the weekend series opener on Saturday (April 12). She tallied 11 strikeouts while going the distance, surrendering just three hits. She posted double digits in strikeouts for the seventh time in 2014. Dorsey and junior Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) combined to get the job done in the pitching circle as Ohio recorded a 3-2 walk-off win and a series sweep of Bowling Green on Sunday (April 13). She tossed three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and earning the pitching victory to improve to 17-12 on the season. Dorsey has totaled 183 strikeouts over 167.2 innings of work in 2014. 

 

Lani Ernst, Toledo, Third Base

Senior, Milan, MI/Milan

Freshman 2B Chandler Rice has been on a tear as of late, recording three multi-hit games last week, including a 3-for-3 (1.000) effort in Toledo’s sole win over Dayton in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 9. Rice, who has six multi-hit games in her last nine outings, is 16 for her last 27 at bats, and has taken over the team lead with a .405 batting average. Rice also leads the team in slugging percentage (.495) and is second on the team in both doubles (8) and hits (45). She also recorded three extra-base hits to go along with three runs scored and three RBI. 

 

Erin Binkowski, Western Michigan, P

Freshman, Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids

Erin Binkowski went 1-1 in the circle this past week, earning her third win of the season.  Binkowski had an ERA of 1.80 in three appearances and two complete games, 11.2 of work.

 

Kelsea Cichocki, Western Michigan

Freshman, McHenry, Ill./McHenry

Kelsea Cichocki led the Broncos with a .462 average over five games last week, going 6-for-13 at the plate.  She hit her third double of the season (against Ball State) and had an RBI in each of WMU’s wins against Miami.  Cichocki opened the Miami series with her best game of the week, going 3-for-4 at the plate. For the week she slugged .538, walked three times, struck out only twice, had 2 RBIs and scored no runs.

MAC East Player of the Week
Sammi Gallardo, Buffalo, Infielder
Senior, Chula Vista, CA/Otay Ranch
Senior Sammi Gallardo batted .421 in UB’s six games this past week, as she hit six home runs, setting the single-season home run record with 11.  Gallardo slugged an impressive 1.421 as she finished with eight hits, seven of those for extra bases.  Gallardo became so unstoppable at the plate that she was intentionally walked three times over the weekend in the series with Eastern Michigan.  Twice during the week, Gallardo had multi-home run games, marking the first time in school history that a player has had more than one multi-home run game in the same season and she is only the second player to do it in her Buffalo career.  Gallardo has now hit 25 home runs in her career, just two shy of the all-time school record.
MAC East Pitcher of the Week
Erin Seiler, Akron, P
Sophomore, Bowling Green, Ohio/Toledo Central Catholic 
Erin Seiler picked up three complete game victories last week to improve her record to 12-4 on the season. She struck out 20 in 27 innings of work, posting an ERA of 1.81 in five appearances. In a non-conference matchup with Youngstown State, Seiler allowed just one earned run and four hits. She followed that up with a solid performance in a win over East Division foe Bowling Green, striking out nine Falcons and giving up only two hits. The sophomore retired 12 of the first 13 BGSU batters she faced, and carried a no-hitter through five innings. In Akron’s series finale against Toledo, Seiler retired 10 of the final 11 batters she faced to register her team-leading 14th complete game in 18 starts.
MAC West Player of the Week
Jennifer Gilbert, Ball State, LF
Year, Hometown/Previous School: Senior, McKinney, Texas/McKinney
It was another benchmark-setting week for Ball State senior left fielder Jennifer Gilbert who climbed into the top 10 on the NCAA Division I career home run list, at 71, and became the first player in Mid-American Conference history to score 200 career runs … In helping guide the Cardinals to a 4-1 record for the week, Gilbert blasted four home runs and three doubles, while batting .571 (8-for-14) and posting a 1.643 slugging percentage … In Wednesday’s come-from-behind victory at Purdue, Gilbert launched a pair of homers, including a game-winning solo shot to lead off the seventh inning … Gilbert tallied her 70th career home run in Ball State’s 7-4 win at Northern Illinois, while blasting her 71st career round-tripper in the Cardinals’ 5-2 victory at Western Michigan … Later in the same game versus the Broncos, Gilbert became the first player in league history to cross the plate 200 times, when she reached base on a sixth-inning walk and eventually came around to score on a groundout from classmate Taylor Rager … Prior to Gilbert, the previous MAC record for career runs scored was 167 set by former Ball State four-year letterwinner Lisa Rozanski (2008-11).
MAC West Co-Pitcher of the Week
Kelsey Schifferdecker, Ball State, P
Sophomore, Belton, Mo./Belton
Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Schifferdecker turned in a pair of strong pitching performances over the weekend, picking up complete game victories at Northern Illinois and Western Michigan … In Saturday’s win at WMU, Schifferdecker limited the Broncos to just one run and three hits, while posting seven total strikeouts, which is one shy of her career-high.
Morgan Yuncker, Central Michigan, Pitcher 
Senior, Beal City, Mich. (Beal City HS)
Yuncker improved to 8-1 on the season with a 7-2 win on Saturday at Kent State in seven innings pitched. The senior pitched 5.2 innings Friday to MAC foe Buffalo only giving up one hit in the loss. Over the weekend the hard-throwing right hander struck out seven batters and gave up four runs for the Chippewas.
Other Nominees:
Shawna Mailloux, Akron, OF
Sophomore, Camano Island, Wash./Stanwood HS
Shawna Mailloux was impressive at the plate as she led Akron to a 4-2 record last week. The Zips’ leadoff hitter was a combined 10-for-19 over the course of the six games, garnering a .526 batting average. After recording four last week, she now has 11 multi-hit games this season. Mailloux belted her third home run of the year as part of a three-hit effort in a non-league contest against Youngstown State, in the form of a game-tying grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. In Akron’s twinbill against Bowling Green, the sophomore went 4-for-7 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored. In UA’s 5-2 triumph over Toledo, she was a perfect 2-for-2 with a walk and a run. Mailloux posted a combined on-base percentage of .524, striking out only once in 22 plate appearances. She also snagged three bases during MAC play over the weekend, bringing her season total to 18 stolen bases.
Tori Speckman, Buffalo, Pitcher
Senior, Alvin, TX/Alvin
Tori Speckman continued her dominating performances for the Bulls as she went 2-0 this past week, pitching in three UB victories.  Speckman had her best performance on Saturday in a 7-0 win over Eastern Michigan, where she allowed just two hits and struck out 10 batters, all via swings and misses.  Speckman opened the weekend with a 5-2 win over Central Michigan, snapping the Chippewa’s seven-game winning streak.  Speckman allowed just five hits in that game and did not surrender a run until the fifth inning.  She struck out four batters in the victory.  She completed the weekend on Sunday with a no decision, pitching the first six innings in an extra-inning victory over EMU.  For the week, Speckman recorded an ERA of just over one, finishing at 1.05.  In 20.0 innings pitched, she had a WHIP of under one, 0.85 and she struck out 17 batters, while walking just six.  In fact, Speckman recorded more strike outs than hits, 17 to 11.  She improved to 13-9 on the season, and is just one victory shy of the all-time single season record.  Speckman now has 160 strikeouts on the year in 151.1 innings pitched.
Trista Cox, Central Michigan, 3B
Junior, Canton, Mich. (Louisville)
The junior blasted her ninth homerun of the season on Friday against Buffalo. Cox scored a run in all four of CMU’s games this weekend in addition to adding three hits, one double and two RBIs. She boasts a team-high .362 batting average and .672 slugging percentage on the season.
Abi Clark, Eastern Michigan
Sophomore
Sophomore transfer Abi Clark led the EMU offense in game two against the Bulls, tallying two hits and one RBI in the Eagles nine-inning loss to Buffalo. Clark kept the ball rolling for the Eagles when she tallied the Green and White’s second straight single with a base knock through the right side of the field, plating freshman Taylor Wagner. The Clinton, Mich. native is hitting .224 on the season for the Eagles with 13 hits and four RBI and has posted three hits in conference play and one RBI.
Abbie Minsker, Eastern Michigan, P
Freshman Abbie Minsker made her first appearance for the Eagles in a week, pitching a full seven innings against the University at Buffalo. The freshman hurler started the game for the Green and White before coming back on in relief in the ninth inning. Minsker struck out two batters and walked just two in her seven innings of work despite suffering the loss. The Howell, Mich. native holds a team-best 5.11 ERA on the season in her 24.2 innings in her first season donning the Green and White.
Ariele Patterson, Kent State, OF
Junior, Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill
Junior Ariele Patterson continued to swing a hot bat over the weekend, hitting .500 with a home run and two RBI to help Kent State split its weekend series with Central Michigan. Patterson gave the Golden Flashes a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the top of the first inning on Saturday and finished the day with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. On Sunday, she put the Flashes back in the lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Emily Naegele, Northern Illinois, C
Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest
Emily Naegele batted .389 in six games this week, well above her season average of .360. She added to her team leading RBI total of 27 with seven RBIs in six games. The Huskie catcher went 7-of-18 from the plate with five extra base hits, including a home run and four doubles. Her best performance of the week came in NIU’s 6-1 win over Miami when she went 1-for-2 with three RBIs.
Jessica Sturm, Northern Illinois University, P
Junior, Goddard, Kan./Goddard
Jessica Sturm went 2-2 with a 1.66 ERA in five appearances last week for the Huskies. Her best performance of the week came in the series opener with Ball State when she threw her second complete game shutout of the season in a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals. She allowed two hits and two walks while striking out six. Sturm picked up her second win of the week in the series opener with Miami, allowing one run on four hits in seven innings of work. On the week, she allowed 11 runs, six earned, on 21 hits, seven walks, while striking out 13 in 25.1 innings of work.
Alexandria Basquez, Ohio University, INF
Sr., Elk Grove, Calif./Elk Grove
Basquez put together a huge week at the plate for the Ohio University softball team (23-17, 8-2 MAC), helping the Bobcats go 4-0 in weekend conference play after hitting .313 with five hits – including a team-high three home runs – to go along with a team-high eight RBIs and a team-high .875 slugging percentage over six contests. The senior hit a moonshot home run over the left field wall at Buckeye Field in the third inning of the second game of a doubleheader at Ohio State on Wednesday (April 9). She also coaxed a game-high three walks. Basquez belted a grand slam over the center field scoreboard at the Ohio Softball Field in the second game of a MAC doubleheader against Toledo on Friday (April 11) in which the Bobcats prevailed, 5-4, in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the seventh inning. On Saturday (April 12), she bashed her third home run in four games in the second inning of a 6-0 blanking of Bowling Green. On the season, Basquez is batting .297 with a .523 slugging percentage, 38 hits  — including nine doubles and six home
Savannah Jo Dorsey, Ohio University, Pitcher
So., Grove City, Ohio/Central Crossing
Dorsey helped the Ohio University softball team (23-17, 8-2 MAC) put together a perfect 4-0 weekend of Mid-American Conference play, going 3-1 over four appearances and 24.1 innings of work last week in the pitching circle. She struck out 28 while allowing just 10 runs – only four of which were earned – on 21 hits and five walks. Dorsey also enjoyed success at the plate, batting .263 with five hits – including two home runs – to go along with three RBIs. Dorsey twirled a shutout as Ohio blanked Toledo, 6-0, in game one of a doubleheader on Friday (April 11) at the Ohio Softball Field. She tossed seven frames of six-hit ball, striking out eight. Dorsey sent an RBI single into left field in the bottom of the seventh inning to push the Bobcats to a 5-4 walk-off win over Toledo in game two of the Friday doubleheader. Dorsey tossed her second shutout in as many days as Ohio shut down Bowling Green, 6-0, in the weekend series opener on Saturday (April 12). She tallied 11 strikeouts while going the distance, surrendering just three hits. She posted double digits in strikeouts for the seventh time in 2014. Dorsey and junior Lauren McClary (Pasadena, Texas) combined to get the job done in the pitching circle as Ohio recorded a 3-2 walk-off win and a series sweep of Bowling Green on Sunday (April 13). She tossed three scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and earning the pitching victory to improve to 17-12 on the season. Dorsey has totaled 183 strikeouts over 167.2 innings of work in 2014.
Lani Ernst, Toledo, Third Base
Senior, Milan, MI/Milan
Freshman 2B Chandler Rice has been on a tear as of late, recording three multi-hit games last week, including a 3-for-3 (1.000) effort in Toledo’s sole win over Dayton in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 9. Rice, who has six multi-hit games in her last nine outings, is 16 for her last 27 at bats, and has taken over the team lead with a .405 batting average. Rice also leads the team in slugging percentage (.495) and is second on the team in both doubles (8) and hits (45). She also recorded three extra-base hits to go along with three runs scored and three RBI.
Erin Binkowski, Western Michigan, P
Freshman, Eaton Rapids, Mich./Eaton Rapids
Erin Binkowski went 1-1 in the circle this past week, earning her third win of the season.  Binkowski had an ERA of 1.80 in three appearances and two complete games, 11.2 of work.
Kelsea Cichocki, Western Michigan
Freshman, McHenry, Ill./McHenry
Kelsea Cichocki led the Broncos with a .462 average over five games last week, going 6-for-13 at the plate.  She hit her third double of the season (against Ball State) and had an RBI in each of WMU’s wins against Miami.  Cichocki opened the Miami series with her best game of the week, going 3-for-4 at the plate. For the week she slugged .538, walked three times, struck out only twice, had 2 RBIs and scored no runs.

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