SEC Softball
Player of the Week
Jade Rhodes • Auburn
Senior • 1B • Sarasota, Fla.
Rhodes batted .667 last week, recording 10 hits (including three home runs), nine runs and eight RBI as she helped her team to set a school record with their 16th straight win in the 4-0 week. Personally, she set the school record with five hits in a game, going 5-for-5 at Arkansas on Saturday, and tied her career high with four runs in the game. Rhodes also had two home runs in the contest, marking the second time this year she has hit multiple home runs in a single game. She is now tied for the SEC lead with 16 home runs and tied for team lead with 18 multi RBI games.
Pitcher of the Week
Kelsey Nunley • Kentucky
Senior • RHP • Soddy Daisy, Tenn.
Nunley went 3-0 on the week with a win over three top-25 teams and in addition, a top-10 win – her fourth of the season. On Monday, she became the current NCAA leader in innings pitched for a current player, tossing over 600 innings in her career to this point. Nunley picked up the sweep-clinching win over No. 8 LSU by tossing a complete-game shutout on Monday night to sweep the Tigers, UK’s first-ever road sweep in Baton Rouge and first-ever shutout sweep not allowing a run to an SEC opponent in three games. She then won Friday and Sunday’s games over No. 18 Missouri to wrap up Kentucky’s fifth SEC series win of the season. Nunley allowed just five earned runs in 20 innings pitched, striking out 16 batters and throwing two more complete games, her ninth and 10th of the season.
Freshman of the Week
Matty Moss • Tennessee
RHP • Greenville, S.C.
Moss went 1-0 over the weekend, earning the win in Saturday’s series opener over No. 10 Georgia to improve to 9-2 on the year. After Georgia tied the game at 2-2, she entered the game in relief in the first inning with two outs and the bases loaded, striking out the next batter to close the inning. Moss finished the day with six strikeouts while keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard as UT earned a 5-2 victory. She held Georgia’s high-powered offense, which entered the weekend leading the country in batting average, to just three hits the rest of the game. Moss now leads the team and ranks eighth in the SEC with a 1.27 ERA.
Pac-12 Softball
SAN FRANCISCO — The Pac-12 Conference office announced the softball weekly honors for play from Apr. 11-17. UTAH junior outfielder Kay Kay Fronda was named player of the week, fellow Ute RHP Katie Donovan was tabbed pitcher of the week while ARIZONA freshman INF Joelle Krist was voted freshman of the week.
Fronda, (Rohnert Park, Calif.) after going for 2-for-13 in her last six games, had a season-high three hits with a triple and two runs scored in Utah’s 10-2 victory over No. 22 ASU on Saturday. On Sunday, the Utes doubled its lead to 2-0 when Fronda started the third with a solo homer that avoided the foul pole in left. It was the junior’s fourth round-tripper this season and she is now 5-for-6 over the last two games. Fronda led the Utes in a number of categories this week including hits, batting, slugging (1.500), on-base percentage (.571), total bases (9) and home runs as the team went 3-0 including a pair of wins over No. 22 ASU.
Donovan (Salem, Ore.) Donovan earned a pair of wins this week against Weber State and No. 22 ASU. Utah softball celebrated its 40th anniversary as Donovan continued her strong performances of late with another complete game, her 10th of the season. She improved to 14-7 on the year and has allowed one earned run or less in four of her last five starts. On Sunday, she also notched the save for the Utes in a 3-1 win over the Sun Devils. Her 1.90 ERA puts her second in the Pac-12, with opponents batting .227 (4th). She also rates fourth in innings pitched and sixth in strikeouts. This is Utah’s 12th and 13th all-time weekly Pac-12 honor.
Krist’s (Petaluma, Calif.) bat came alive to help Arizona sweep the Cardinal, and the nearby Petaluma native did it in her return home. The freshman hit .500 with a home run and three RBI as the Wildcats swept the Cardinal for the third-straight year. After entering the weekend without a multi-hit affair in her career, Krist had back-to-back two-hit games on Saturday and Sunday, including a home run and three RBI in the process. The freshman slugged .800 in 10 at-bats. On the year, Krist is hitting .224 in 17 starts. She has four homers on the season. This is Arizona’s 154th all time weekly accolade, leading the Conference.
A player of the week has been selected every week since 1989, with the pitcher of the week honor dating back to 1992. This is the second season of freshman of the week honors.
Big 12 Softball
This week’s Big 12 Softball awards reside in Bedlam, as Oklahoma State’s Madi Sue Montgomery takes home Player of the Week and Oklahoma’s Paige Parker grabs Pitcher of the Week. Montgomery drove in 10 runs and Parker tossed two complete-game shutouts en route to the honors. It marks the first career honor for the freshman, Montgomery, and Parker earns her third award of 2016 after being named Pitcher of the Week seven times in 2015 en route to Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and second team All-American honors. Parker was also named the USA Softball Player of the Week this week for her accomplishments.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Madi Sue Montgomery, Oklahoma State, 2B, Fr., Burleson, Texas
Montgomery led the way at the plate for the Cowgirls on their way to a 3-1 week that included a 3-0 conference sweep of Iowa State where the Cowgirls scored a total of 32 runs. The freshman finished with 10 RBI on the week, including five in game two of the ISU series, a 12-10 win for OSU. For the week, she finished 6-for-13 at the dish with a home run and a stolen base. Montgomery also played an important role in the field, finishing with three key run-saving plays against the Cyclones over the course of the weekend. In conference play, the freshman from Burleson, Texas leads the Big 12 in RBI with 15 and is tied for third in the league in total bases with 20.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Paige Parker, Oklahoma, LHP, So., Independence, Mo.
Parker earned all four of Oklahoma’s wins last week, including a three-game sweep at No. 19/18 Baylor to put the Sooners in first place in the Big 12 at 6-1. Parker began the week with four shutout innings and a win against Wichita State where she struck out four and walked one, providing her with momentum for the top-25 weekend showdown with Baylor. The Bears had been shut out just once all season entering the weekend, but Parker did it in consecutive games. In the series opener, she struck out five and walked three in tossing her seventh shutout of the year. She then topped that performance in game two, when she was flat-out dominant, throwing a career-high 8.0 innings to record her eighth shutout of the season while striking out six and giving up just four hits with no walks. The sophomore from Independence, Missouri also took home the complete-game victory in game three, allowing four runs (three earned) over seven frames. The win gave her the victory in her ninth-consecutive start. Parker currently leads the conference in wins on the season with 17, and has posted the top ERA during conference play (1.20 over 41.0 IP).
ACC Softball
GREENSBORO, N.C. (theACC.com) – Notre Dame sophomore leftfielder Bailey Bigler has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Player of the Week, while Fighting Irish senior Allie Rhodes earned ACC Pitcher of the Week honors. The honor is the second of the season for Rhodes, who was also named ACC Pitcher of the Week on March 7. Bigler was named ACC Player of the Week for the first time.
Bigler was the top Notre Dame hitter during a 4-0 week that included a three-game sweep at Virginia Tech. Bigler went 6-for-9 (.667) against three-time ACC Pitcher of the Week Maggie Tyler during the Virginia Tech series and delivered a pair of game-winning RBIs. The Newtown, Pennsylvania, native went 3-for-3 with two doubles, one triple, an RBI and two runs scored in a 7-5 come-from-behind win on Saturday. Bigler added a 2-for-3 performance with a game-winning RBI single and a run scored in Sunday’s win that completed the ACC sweep. She added five putouts and one assist from her post in left field, making three diving catches over the course of the Virginia Tech series. Bigler is the Irish leader with four triples this season. She is batting .386 with six doubles, 19 RBI and 25 runs scored.
Rhodes was a stalwart in the circle for Notre Dame, going 3-0 with a 0.39 ERA in three starts. Opponents batted just .153 against Rhodes in 18 innings, scoring two runs (one earned) while striking out 24 times. The Kirkland, Washington, native opened the week with five shutout innings in a home win against Butler, scattering two hits and establishing a career-high with 12 strikeouts of the 19 batters she faced. Rhodes kept the shutout streak going into Saturday’s first game of an ACC doubleheader at Virginia Tech, tossing a one-hit seven-inning shutout that featured five strikeouts on 93 pitches. The stellar performance extended into Sunday’s series finale with the Hokies, which saw Rhodes yield one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts. Rhodes is the Notre Dame leader with 15 wins, two saves, six total shutouts and 128 strikeouts in 117.2 innings pitched thus far in 2016.
Big Ten Softball
Co-Player of the Week
Sara Groenewegen, Minnesota
Jr., P/DP, White Rock, B.C. – Elgin Park Secondary
• Recorded a slugging percentage of 1.333 in a series sweep at Rutgers
• Batted .556 (5-for-9) and recorded a .636 on-base percentage, with two home runs, a double, five RBI and three runs scored
• Also picked up a pair of wins in the circle, tallying 15 strikeouts in 8.2 innings pitched and not allowing a single earned run for a 0.00 ERA
• The 2014-15 Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns her second Player of the Week award
• Last Minnesota Big Ten Player of the Week: Sara Groenewegen (March 28, 2016)
Kiki Stokes, Nebraska
Sr., OF, Olathe, Kan. – Olathe East
• Hit the game-winning two-run home run in the seventh inning of game one, opening a weekend sweep at Northwestern
• Drew three walks and was successful in a stolen base attempt, while recording a .600 on-base percentage in the second game
• Recorded four hits and two home runs in the series finale, marking her second career outing with multiple home runs and first in conference play
• Earns her second Player of the Week award
• Last Nebraska Big Ten Player of the Week: MJ Knighten (Feb. 15, 2016)
Pitcher of the Week
Megan Betsa, Michigan
Jr., RHP, McDonough, Ga. – Union Grove
• Posted a 3-0 record with a win over Michigan State and a pair of victories against Ohio State, helping the Wolverines to first place in the conference standings
• Averaged 12.7 strikeouts per game, fanning 38 batters in 20.0 innings pitched
• Two of three wins were complete-game shutouts, with at least 12 strikeouts in each game
• Secures her fifth Pitcher of the Week honor and first this season
• Last Michigan Big Ten Pitcher of the Week: Megan Betsa (April 20, 2015)
Freshman of the Week
Madison Seifert, Penn State
RHP, Wildwood, Mo. – Lafayette
• Notched two wins in the Nittany Lions’ 5-0 week, appearing in four of five games against Bucknell and Maryland
• Struck out three batters and allowed only one run in a complete-game win over Bucknell
• Tallied four strikeouts in 7.0 innings pitched over three games against the Terrapins, totaling a 1.00 ERA for the week
• Records her first Big Ten Freshman weekly honor
• Last Penn State Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Alyssa VanDerveer (April 6, 2015)
Sun Belt Softball
Community Coffee Pitcher of the Week
Randi Rupp, Texas State, Sophomore
Sophomore pitcher Randi Rupp led the charge against the Trojans, an improved to 19-8 overall as she went a perfect 3-0 in 16.1 innings. In her innings of work this week, Rupp allowed just one unearned run to finish the week with a 0.00 ERA. Against Lamar, Rupp eclipsed 500 career strikeouts at Texas State to become the fourth Bobcat in school history to reach the milestone. She had two games this week with at least 10 strikeouts and she only allowed four walks. Against Troy in the series finale, Rupp pitched her fifth solo complete game shutout this season while allowing just four hits. All week she allowed just seven hits including just one in the series opener against Troy. Rupp finished the week with an 8.5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and has now improved her season strikeout total to 234. Her opponents were held to just a .130 batting average this week.
Community Coffee Student-Athlete of the Week
Ivie Drake, Georgia State, Catcher, Sophomore
Sophomore Ivie Drake helped fuel a five-game win streak for the Panthers this week. Drake hit .438, tallying seven hits and drawing six walks in the five wins. Drake’s best performance came in Game 1 against App State Saturday. The catcher went 3-for-4 with 5 RBI on a grand slam and two doubles. The grand slam was her 33rd career home run, good for second on GSU’s career list. Drake added three more RBI in Game 2 thanks to a second home run, her 12th of the season. She finished the week with 9 RBI and 8 runs scored.
Big West Softball
Mata Comes Up With Big Hits In UC Riverside Series
Senior Tayana Mata (Folsom, Calif./Sierra College) came off the bench to infuse Hawai‘i with key offense as she collects the Big West Softball Field Player of the Week honor.
Called upon to pinch hit in the sixth inning with her team trailing by one run, Mata delivered a game-tying RBI single with two runners aboard and two outs, scoring Keiki Carlos from second base. Later in the eighth inning, Mata produced again as she knocked in Carlos for the go-ahead run with another two-out RBI single. She finished the game 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs.
Mata got the start at second base for Saturday’s doubleheader, and she contributed heavily in the clutch. She contributed her third two-out, RBI single in the series to give UH a 1-0 lead in the third inning of an eventual 3-2 win. Mata collected her fourth RBI of the series with an RBI double down the left field line to give the Rainbow Wahine a 2-1 lead.
In the final game of the series, she went 1-for-3 to give her a .556 (5-for-9) average for the series.
Others nominated: Stephanie Hayward (Cal Poly); Missy Taukeiaho (Cal State Fullerton); Savannah Horvath (CSUN); Maddie Richard (UC Riverside); Kristen Clark (UC Santa Barbara)
Chalmers Pivotal In Sweep Of Long Beach State
Cal Poly sophomore Lindsey Chalmers (San Ramon, Calif./California HS) tossed a pair of gems in a road sweep at second-place Long Beach State, making her the Big West Softball Pitcher of the Week.
The right-hander produced two 1-0 victories over the Beach for her third and fourth shutouts of the season.
Chalmers struck out four without a walk and yielded five hits in the series finale on Sunday. In the series opener, she hurled a four-hitter with two strikeouts and two walks.
Chalmers, in 14 innings of work, recorded a 0.00 ERA, a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio and limited LBSU hitters to a .188 batting average.
Others nominated: Sydney Golden (Cal State Fullerton); Daphne Pofek (CSUN); Veronika Gulvin (UC Santa Barbara); Kanani Aina Cabrales (Hawai‘i)
CAA Softball
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Brook Miko • Towson
So. | INF | Ladera Ranch, Calif./San Juan Hills
Miko had at least one hit and one RBI in every game she played in last week, batting .500 (7-for-14) as the Tigers went 3-1. The sophomore smacked three doubles and also added a three-run homer, finishing the week with six RBI and four runs. Miko started the week with two hits and one RBI in a win over Georgetown and chipped in three hits and two RBI in a doubleheader split with Elon on Saturday. Miko capped the week with a double and a homer as the Tigers won their third CAA series of the spring by beating Elon, 8-3. Over the last eight games, the sophomore has accounted for 16 RBI.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Megan Good • No. 7 James Madison
So. | P/INF | Mount Sidney, Va./Fort Defiance
Good picked up yet another weekly pitching honor, the fifth, in fact, of her sophomore campaign. The hard-throwing righty earned two wins in the circle for the Dukes (37-3, 12-0 in CAA), who swept Drexel over the weekend in Philadelphia. Good went the distance in both performances, firing a two-hit shutout in a 3-0 win on Saturday, followed up by a perfect game on Sunday in the team’s 8-0, run-rule victory. Her historic outing on Sunday was just the second perfect game in Madison program history. She struck out five over five frames of work. A native of Fort Defiance, Va., Good totaled 17 strikeouts over the two appearances and held the Dragons to a 0.53 batting average.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK:
Madison Brown • College of Charleston
Fr. | OF | Irmo, S.C./Dutch Fork
Brown is the second straight Cougar freshman to be recognized as the CAA Rookie of the Week. The lefty registered one hit in all three games against UNCW and accounted for the lone Cougar run in the series finale, 2-1 loss to the Seahawks. That run came via hitting her first career homer in the top of the seventh inning. Brown, who also swiped one bag in the series against UNCW, has started 19 games this spring, contributing four doubles and five RBI.
Conference USA Softball
C-USA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
CARNESHA THOMPSON | FLORIDA ATLANTIC | SR. | LAKE WALES, FLORIDA
Thompson, one of the hottest bats across C-USA during a competitive week of league play, scorched visiting East Division foe Marshall in a three game sweep. The Owls, normally known for low-scoring, “grind-it-out” victories behind a stellar pitching staff, errupted for 17 runs on day one of the series, led by Thompson. In the game one, 9-1, six-inning victory, the senior went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and three RBI. On Saturday night, the Lake Wales, Florida, native blasted a home run and notched two more RBI in the 8-0, five-inning win over the Herd. Thompson added a 2-for-3 finish to the series with a second home run and two more RBI in the Owls’ 5-0 sweep-sealing win on Sunday to continue Florida Atlantic’s seven-game winning streak. On the weekend, the senior went 5-for-7 (.714) with a 2.000 slugging percentage thanks to two home runs, a triple, a double, and seven total RBI. This is Thompson’s first career weekly award.
C-USA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
SAMANTHA ROBLES | SOUTHERN MISS | RS- SO. | TEXAS CITY, TEXAS
Robles led a Southern Miss pitching staff that shut down North Texas in a three-game sweep over the weekend, the Golden Eagles’ first league series sweep since 2011. The redshirt sophomore earned two of the squad’s victories, tossing 14.0 total innings in two complete game performances. In game one, Robles only allowed four hits while going the distance to earn a complete game shutout in the 4-0 victory over the Mean Green. On the weekend, the Texas City, Texas, native notched a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA while striking out 13, allowing just nine hits and giving only one free pass. In the two outings, Robles tossed five “1-2-3 innings” and struck out at least one batter in eight of 14 innings of work. This is Robles first career C-USA Pitcher of the Week award, and the first as a pitching staff for Southern Miss since the 2010 season.
AAC Softball
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Valerie Sadowl • 2B • Sr. • UConn • Horsham, Pa.
Sadowl has been selected as Player of the Week after she hit .429 over three games played, with a double, homerun, and six RBIs. She also drew three walks as she produced a .600 on base percentage to go with a slugging percentage of 1.000. On Saturday the senior led UConn at the plate, recording two of the team’s three total hits to go with four RBIs. In the fifth inning, she hit her first homer since 2014 – a three-run shot – to lift the Huskies to an 8-5 comeback win over the Pirates. Sadowl added two RBIs on Sunday, as the Huskies clinched the series with a 15-7 run-rule win over ECU. Defensively, the Horsham, Pa., native had four putouts and three assists without an error.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Erica Nunn • P • Sr. • USF • Apex, N.C.
Nunn has been named Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week and fourth time this season after she threw 11 total innings for No. 25/22 USF, including a complete-game shutout, in a conference series against Memphis. Nunn earned two wins against the Tigers, as she struck out 17 batters and walked just two. The senior allowed five hits and no runs between the two games. The product of Apex, N.C., has now pitched 25 consecutive scoreless innings in conference play. Her 11 strikeouts on Saturday marked the third time this season that she has struck out double-digit batters, all coming in conference play.
Southern Conference Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Bethany Cowart and Lindsey Fadnek have earned Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games played April 11-17, the league office announced Monday.
Cowart, a senior outfielder, hit .556 (5-for-9) at the dish with five RBIs in the Bucs’ 2-1 series win at Mercer over the weekend. On Saturday, the Ringgold, Ga., native recorded a single and drew a walk in ETSU’s 7-2 game-one win before adding a double in two plate appearances in the second half of the twin bill. Cowart saved her best performance for last, going 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs as the Bucs cruised to an 11-7 victory in the series finale. She homered twice, marking the first multi-home run game of her career, and swatted a double in the outing.
Fadnek was credited with both of ETSU’s wins after tossing a pair of complete games. The junior right-hander from Coalfield, Tenn., struck out six Mercer batters, registered only one walk and did not allow an earned run in the weekend’s first contest. Fadnek then notched three Ks and allowed three earned runs in the series finale on Sunday, which, combined with a strong game from Cowart and the Bucs offense, proved to be enough for a win. For the weekend, she compiled a 1.50 ERA with nine punchouts.
Fadnek, who is 8-3 on the season, ranks in the top five in the SoCon in ERA (3.06), opposing batting average (.254), hits allowed (64), runs allowed (37) and earned runs allowed (28).
Atlantic Sun Softball
Atlantic Sun Softball Player of the Week – April 18, 2016
Danielle Baker, Jacksonville
Sophomore | Infielder | Clermont, Fla.
– Second Career Atlantic Sun Player of the Week honor
– Launched five home runs in a 5-0 week for JU
– Recorded at least one hit in each game, going 6-for-17
– Notched two solo shots in a 4-0 vs. Florida A&M
– Hit her first grand slam in a 16-15 victory over foe UNF
– Now sits second in the A-Sun with 12 HR’s on the year
Other Nominees: Louie Ross, FGCU; Caitlin Plocheck, Lipscomb; Minnie Cocuzza; Ashly Smith, Stetson
Atlantic Sun Softball Pitcher the Week – April 18, 2016
Victoria Brown, Jacksonville
Senior | Pitcher | Plano, Texas | MBA
– Fourth Career Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week honor
– Pitched 25.2 innings, collected five wins on the week
– Allowed zero earned runs in her first three games
– Posted two complete game shutouts, vs. FAMU & UNF
– Led the Dolphins to first River City wins since 2012
– Now second in the A-Sun with 16 wins on the season
Other Nominees: Riley Randolph, FGCU; Tanner Sanders, Lipscomb; Tori Perkins, Stetson
WAC Softball
DENVER – NM State’s Corrin Green and Kayla Green have been named the Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 11-17. This is the first honor of the season and second of her career for Corrin Green and the first-ever honor for Kayla Green.
Corrin Green, a sophomore designated player from Glendale, Ariz., hit .833 with five hits, one home run, four RBIs and two walks in a road series at Grand Canyon. She posted a 1.333 slugging percentage and .875 on-base percentage over the three games. In the first game of the series as a pinch hitter, she walked in her only plate appearance. In the nightcap, Corrin Green went 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk and two RBIs. She closed out the series with a 3-for-4 performance, driving in two runs.
Kayla Green, a freshman from Tucson, Ariz., went 2-0 with a 0.70 ERA over 10.0 innings in two appearances last week. She held Grand Canyon, a team that entered the week leading the WAC with 10.17 hits per game, to just one run on five hits over 10.0 innings, with three strikeouts. In the second game of the series, an 8-0 NM State run-rule victory, Kayla Green tossed a two-hit shutout, striking out two. In the series finale, she also earned the win, allowing one run on three hits over 5.0 innings. For the week, she held the Lopes to a .143 batting average and just one extra base hit.
WCC Softball
SAN BRUNO, Calif. – San Diego senior catcher Mary Grabowski and Saint Mary’s senior pitcher Lujane Mussadi have been named the West Coast Conference Softball Players and Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.
The honor is the first this season for Grabowski and the second for Mussadi.
Grabowski hit .444 with a pair of doubles against Loyola Marymount over the weekend to claim her first conference honor of the season. After going 1-for-3 in the first game of the series, the senior catcher went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a RBI in the second game. In the series finale, Grabowski went 1-for-3. Behind the plate, Grabowski helped the San Diego pitching staff allow just six earned runs in six games against the Lions, the league’s leading offense heading into the week.
Mussadi claims her second conference pitcher of the week award this season after tossing two complete games to go 2-0 over the weekend as the Gaels defeated Pacific in a three-game series. Saturday, Mussadi went seven innings, allowed four hits, no runs and no walks while strkiking out two. Sunday, Mussadi went through the Tiger lineup in workman-like fashion to notch her second complete game win of the series. For the week, Mussadi tossed 14.0 inning and allowed just 12 hits, two earned runs, one walked batter and finished with a 1.00 ERA.
Saint Mary’s has won three of the last four Pitcher of the Week awards with Mussadi claiming two alongside teammate Katie Moss last week.
MVC Softball
MVC Player of the Week
Kennedy Bailey, Sophomore, First Base, Delta BC, Canada – UNI
Kennedy Bailey was a force at the plate for UNI last week as she hit four homers in their three-game series against Loyola while racking up a 1.700 slugging percentage. Bailey had three multi-RBI performances on the week as she tallied 10 over the four game stretch. Against Iowa on Tuesday, Bailey drove in two runs in the sixth inning to cut the deficit down to three. In the series opener against Loyola, Bailey went 2-2 at the plate with a walk, hitting two home runs while adding three RBI. Her third homerun of the day occurred in game two of the doubleheader, a grand slam that put UNI up 8-0 in an eventual 12-0 win.
MVC Pitcher of the Week
Erin Struemph, Junior, St. Thomas, Mo. – Missouri State
Struemph stifled the Drake offense in a pair of complete game victories over the previously unbeaten Bulldogs in Des Moines last weekend. The junior hurler went 2-0 with a miniscule 0.39 earned run average in 18 innings pitched over three outings last week. Struemph began her week with 4.0 innings of scoreless relief against Tulsa on Wednesday. Then on Saturday, she fired her fourth three-hitter of the Valley slate in shutting out Drake to hand the Bulldogs the first MVC loss of the season. Struemph returned to the circle on Sunday and again dealt a complete game gem with just five hits against in the series-clinching win. For the week, Struemph held opponents to a miserly .148 batting average and allowed just 0.5 hits per inning with 14 strikeouts.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Morgan Florey, Freshman, Pitcher, Peoria, Ill. – Evansville
University of Evansville freshman Morgan Florey had a memorable week for the Purple Aces both in the circle and at the plate. Florey finished the week batting .429 with three hits in seven at-bats. All three hits were home runs as she finished with 7 RBI and a slugging % of 1.714. She also drew four walks while getting on base 63.6% of the time and scored four runs. On the pitching side, Florey picked up two wins, going the distance in the Aces’ wins over Illinois State and stands at 11 wins on the season. She finished with a 3.82 ERA in 14.2 innings of work. She struck out 13 batters and walked just two. Florey opened up the weekend series on Saturday, going 2-3 with five runs batted in and two home runs. Throwing all seven innings, she gave up three earned runs while striking out six. On Sunday, Florey was back at it once again, throwing another complete game victory while going 1-1 at the plate with her third homer of the weekend. She drove in two runs, scored twice and walked three times.
Big South Softball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Charleston Southern catcher Caitlyn Emberson (Taft, Calif.) and Coastal Carolina freshman Taty Forbes (Redmond, Wa.) have been selected as the Big South Conference Softball Co-Players of the Week. Additionally, Radford sophomore Abby Morrow (Ruther Glen, Va.) and Longwood’s Elizabeth McCarthy (Dunnsville, Va.) have been named The Crons Brand Co-Pitchers of the Week for games played April 11-17, it was announced today by the conference office.
Emberson hit .643 from the plate with nine hits in 14 at-bats, including five extra bases last week. She slugged for 1.571 and achieved an on-base percentage of .688, leading CSU with a double, four home runs, six RBI and seven runs scored. Emberson hit safely in all five games on the week against Coastal Carolina and Winthrop. In the second game against Coastal, Emberson connected on a leadoff solo home run in the second inning, then added a solo shot to tie the game up in the sixth inning in the Bucs’ eventual loss to the Chanticleers. In the first game of the Bucs’ doubleheader against Winthrop, she connected on the game-winning solo home run to lead the Bucs to a 2-1 victory. In the nightcap, Emberson provided nearly all the offense for the Bucs with a home run and a double in CSU’s 5-2 loss.
Forbes was nearly perfect in the Chanticleers’ two games last week against Charleston Southern, going 6-for-7 from the plate, five runs scored and one RBI. In the first game of the doubleheader against CSU, she reached base after every at bat, going 4-for-4 with four singles and four runs scored. After being down 8-0 in the second game of the twinbill, Forbes hit two singles in the fifth inning and chipped in a run scored as the Chanticleers came back from their largest deficit of the season to win, 11-10 .
Morrow went 3-0 with a 0.33 ERA and two shutouts in her three starts last week, allowing just one run and nine hits over 21 innings. She had 12 strikeouts with just one walk, which ended a 42-inning streak without issuing a free pass. In her first two outings of the week, she recorded back-to-back two-hitters against Hampton and Presbyterian. In the three games, she held opponents to a .125 average.
McCarthy enjoyed a sensational week in the circle, going 3-0 with a win against Virginia Tech and a pair of wins against Gardner-Webb. She gave up just three earned runs in 19.0 innings pitched and tossed three complete games. McCarthy struck out 19 batters, including 11 in game one of the series against Gardner-Webb, and held opponents to just a .138 batting average off her for the week.
MAC Softball
MAC East Player of the Week:
Taylor Shuey / Miami / Outfield
Sr. / Fishers, Ind. / Hamilton Southeastern
Shuey had a historic offensive week in leading the RedHawks to three important MAC wins. She went 8-for-12 with six RBIs and six runs scored for a .667 batting average. She drew four walks and had an on-base percentage of .750. In her eight hits included two doubles and two home runs for a slugging percentage of 1.333.
Shuey became Miami’s all-time leader in RBIs this week, she now has 107 for her career.
Shuey began her week a perfect 2-for-2 with one RBI, one run scored and two walks in leading Miami to a 6-0 win at Bowling Green.
On Friday, she finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Her three-run home run in that contest was the shot that gave her the all-time RBI lead at Miami.
Shuey kept the offense going in the doubleheader against the Golden Flashes on Saturday. She went a combined 4-for-6, recording two hits in each game. She also drove in another run on a solo home run and scored twice. Shuey is now hitting .430 overall and an incredible .537 in MAC play.
MAC East Pitcher of the Week:
Erin Seiler / Akron / Pitcher
Sr. / Bowling Green, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic
Erin Seiler was dominant in all aspects inside the circle this week against Buffalo and Ohio. The Zips pitching staff ace appeared in all five contests and made four starts this past week posting a 4-1 record. In 31.2 innings of work, four complete games and one shut out, Seiler boasted a phenomenal 0.88 ERA and held her opponents to a .139 batting average. Her strikeout-to-walk ratio was 24-to-5 for an average of 4.8 a game. Seiler gave up just six runs (four earned) on 15 hits with just two extra-base hits.
The righty pitched back-to-back complete games against Buffalo (4/13) allowing a combined one run on three hits, struck out 13 and held the Bulls to a .091 batting average.
Seiler appeared in all three-game series against Ohio (4/15-16) on two starts and one relief appearance but earned a decision in each contest. The senior went 2-1 in Athens, Ohio, in 17.2 innings of work including two complete games. She held the Bobcats to 11 hits (.172) and just five runs on the weekend. Ohio averages 3.89 runs per contest.
MAC Co-West Player of the Week:
Allison Curtis / Central Michigan / Right Field
Fr. / Tucson, Ariz. / Salpointe Catholic
Central Michigan freshman Allison Curtis led the way for the Chippewas this week batting, as the Maroon and Gold faced off against Western Michigan and Toledo in this week’s games. Curtis, who hails from Tuscon, Ariz., had a career weekend hitting .636 to lead the Chippewas to a three-game Mid-American Conference sweep of Toledo, the team’s first MAC sweep of the season. Curtis, a right fielder who bats second in coach Margo Jonker’s lineup, had seven hits in 14 at-bats (.500), scored four runs and drove in two on the week as CMU improved to 18-21-1 and 5-8-1 in the MAC. Among Curtis’ hits were two doubles and her first career triple. She totaled 11 bases and finished the weekend series with a 1.000 slugging percentage.
MAC Co-West Player of the Week:
Michelle Kriegshauser / Eastern Michigan / Outfield
Jr. / New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central
Junior Michelle Kriegshauser was unstoppable at the plate, leading the Eagles to a 4-1 record over the course of the week, including a 4-0 mark in league games. Kriegshauser led the Eagles with nine hits (.563 BA), three of which were of the extra base variety. Of EMU’s five games, Kriegshauser turned in multi-hit efforts in four of them. Her best performance of the week came in EMU’s incredible come-from-behind 15-11 win over Ball State, April 16. Kriegshauser finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and two RBIs. Her role at the plate and in the field helped the Eagles to their first three-game sweep of a MAC foe in program history.
MAC West Pitcher of the Week:
Allyson Kus / Western Michigan / Pitcher
Sr. / West Bloomfield, Mich. / West Bloomfield
Senior Allyson Kus went 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA, propelling Western Michigan to three conference victories this week. The wins moved the Broncos into first place in the MAC West with a 9-4 league record. Kus threw complete games in all three contests, giving her 15 complete games for the season. She totaled 12 strikeouts. On Wednesday, she hurled a shutout in a 6-0 victory over rival Central Michigan. Friday she allowed just one earned run in a 4-3 comeback win at Northern Illinois. After trailing 3-0, the Broncos scored two runs in each of their final two at bats to pull ahead and Kus closed the door in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the Huskies in order with a strikeout and a pair of ground balls to end the game. After picking up the victory Friday, Kus returned to the pitcher’s circle to post another win in game one Saturday, a 7-4 Bronco victory in which she also allowed just one earned run. Kus is 7-0 in her last seven starts and has a 13-9, 7-1 MAC record on the year. Her ERA is 1.40 in league play.
A10 Softball
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Massachusetts sophomore Jena Cozza was named Atlantic 10 Conference Softball Player of the Week Monday while Dayton sophomore Manda Cash was selected as the league’s Softball Pitcher of the Week. George Mason freshman Marina Vitalich was chosed as the conference Rookie of the Week. The awards were for games played April 11-17.
Cozza led UMass this week with a .588 average, accumulating 10 hits in five games. A shortstop from Wantagh, N.Y., she homered twice and added three doubles boosting her slugging percentage to 1.118. She added seven runs and four RBI to help lead UMass to a 4-1 record, including a sweep of Rhode Island. In the series opener with St. Bonaventure, she was a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and two RBI.
Cash strung together an incredible 18 innings during the week, picking up two wins over Atlantic 10 foe La Salle and taking a 1-0 loss to No. 23/RV Ohio State. Against the Buckeyes, she allowed just one run on one hit to an offense that came in averaging seven runs and nine hits per game. The left-hander struck out nine Ohio State batters. To follow up her mid-week performance, the southpaw from Columbus, Ohio, allowed just one unearned run on four hits in 12 innings of work against La Salle, striking out 17 and not walking a batter. Her season ERA has dropped to an astonishing 1.32 and she now has seven wins.
Vitalich continued impressing in her first season last week, pitching two complete games, winning both for the Patriots. She threw a total of 16.2 innings in four games of work, surrendering just two runs, only one of which was earned and striking out an impressive 27 batters. Over the weekend, the right-hander from San Pedro, Calif., gave up only one earned run in three games and recorded 12 strikeouts in game two against Saint Joseph’s to help Mason win its first A-10 road series this season.
Big East Softball
NEW YORK – DePaul’s Morgan Maize powered her way to the BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week award while Villanova’s Nikki Alden slugged a few long balls to secure BIG EAST Player of the Week honors.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Nikki Alden, Villanova, So., INF
Alden posted a 1.308 slugging percentage last week, tallying four home runs in the Wildcats’ series-sweep of Creighton. In the first game of the series, the sophomore went 2-for-3 with two dingers and three RBI. She homered in all three games against the Bluejays and finished the week with seven RBI, helping extend Villanova’s win streak to 15 games.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Morgan Maize, DePaul, Sr.
Maize did it all for the Blue Demons last week, but was most dominant inside the pitcher’s circle, striking out 36 batters in 22.0 innings of work. The senior registered a 0.64 ERA, allowing just two earned runs in her four appearances. Maize gave up eight hits and walked just seven batters in her 3-0 week. In her two complete games against BIG EAST foe Butler, she struck out 23 over 12 innings. At the plate, she batted .500 for the week, notching six RBI and two home runs.
Summit League Softball
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CAMPBELL DITTO, OMAHA
Sr. // C // Wamego, Kan.
- Named Summit League Player of the Week for the second time in her career and for the first time since 2013
- Hit .500 (7-for-14) in Omaha’s 3-1 week, including a series win at Western Illinois and a mid-week victory at Iowa State
- Recorded base hits in all four of the Mavs’ games during the week, including a pair of home runs in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader
- For the week, hit two home runs, driving in four runs and scoring three times with an on-base percentage of .563 and slugged 1.000
- Behind the plate, she had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while throwing out both base runners attempting to steal on her
Also nominated: Jenna Balthazor, IPFW; Ali Mosier, IUPUI; Logan Moreland, North Dakota State; Yvon Minogue, South Dakota; Nina Maggio, Western Illinois
Previous honorees: Feb. 15 – Sydney Hames, Omaha; Feb. 22 – Payton Abbott, Western Illinois; Feb 29 – Jackie Stifter, North Dakota State; March 7 – Tierney Bottino, Western Illinois; March 14 – Kourtney Pock, Omaha; March 21 – Kourtney Pock, Omaha; March 28 – Sydney Hancock, South Dakota; April 4 – Sydney Hames, Omaha/Logan Moreland, North Dakota State; April 11 – Logan Moreland, North Dakota State
PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
BROOKE BOETJER, IUPUI
Sr. // RHP // Fillmore, Ind.
- Earned her fourth career Summit League Pitcher of the Week award and first of the 2016 season
- Made four appearances during the week, helping the Jaguars to their first league-series win of the season and a mid-week win over Wright State
- Picked up the win in game two of the series against in-state rival Fort Wayne, going five innings and allowing only three hits and no earned runs
- In the series, she allowed only four hits in 8.2 innings pitched without allowing a run
- In total, the senior struck out eight in 13.2 innings with a 1.02 ERA
Also nominated: Sarah Lazarowich, IPFW; Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State; Kacyee Hart, Western Illinois
Southland Softball
Hitter of the Week – Amanda Gianelloni, Nicholls
Gianelloni led Nicholls to its third sweep of the season after hitting .750 with two home runs, six RBIs and six runs scored against UIW. The Napoleonville, La. (Assumption H.S.), native started the weekend with a grand slam on Friday night as she was 2-for-3 at the plate and chipped in with a sacrifice bunt. On Saturday, she combined to go 4-for-5 in the doubleheader sweep, adding another home run, four runs, two RBIs and a stolen base. Along with hitting safely in all three games, she finished with an impressive 1.500 slugging percentage. For the season, Gianelloni is tied for seventh in the Southland in batting average (.386), while also ranking in the top 10 in runs scored, doubles, triples, RBIs and slugging percentage.
Honorable Mention: Emily Vincent, McNeese State; Taylor Brown, Abilene Christian; Savana Guidry, Houston Baptist.
Pitcher of the Week – Amie Cisneros, Lamar
Cisneros allowed just seven hits over 10.2 innings this week as she extended her scores streak to a career-best 14.1 innings. The Portland, Texas (Gregory-Portland H.S.), native tossed 4.2 innings of scoreless relief against Texas State. That earned her a weekend start against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, where she allowed just four hits over six scoreless innings to get the win.
Honorable Mention: Hannah Haydel, Nicholls; Shannon O’Connor, Houston Baptist; Makayla Sikes, Stephen F. Austin.
American East Softball
Player of the Week
Liz Snow, Albany – Jr., DP, Long Beach, Calif.
- Hit .714 (5-for-7) also walked once in leading Albany to a 2-0 week.
- Slugged 1.571, hitting a home run and three doubles.
- Drove in five runs and scored a pair in the doubleheader sweep of UMBC.
- This is her second Player of the Week award of the seaon (March 15).
Pitcher of the Week
Molly Flowers, Maine – So, P, East Haven, Conn.
- Threw her second career no-hitter in Maine’s five-inning win over UMass Lowell Saturday.
- Eleven of the 15 outs she recorded came via strikeout.
Rookie of the Week
Irene Rivera, Stony Brook – Fr., C/DP, Sylmar, Calif.
- Compiled a slash line of .571/.684/.929 in leading Stony Brook to a 5-0 week.
- Belted a homer and two doubles.
- Drove in eight runs and scored four.
- This is her second Rookie of the Week award of the season (March 29).
Big Sky Softball
OGDEN, Utah (April 18, 2016) – Sacramento State’s Celina Matthias picked up her third Big Sky Conference softball Pitcher of the Week honor while Montana’s Torri Lettus earned this week’s Player of the Week nod.
Lettus, a sophomore infielder from Bothel, Wash., helped lead the Grizzlies to five wins last week. UM topped Carroll College in a midweek double-header before posting a three-game sweep of Portland State in conference play. For the week, the second baseman posted a .500 average with four runs scored, two doubles and three RBIs.
Lettus scored a run in each of the Grizzlies’ wins over PSU. Lettus is batting .321 on the year in 19 appearances. Montana holds an 18-3 record overall and sits in fourth place in the conference with a 7-5 mark.
Matthias, a sophomore right hander from Elk Grove, Calif., had a stellar week posting four straight shutouts including three shutout wins over Southern Utah in a 26-hour span. She threw all 26.0 innings for the Hornets and allowed just 15 hits with two walks and 17 strikeouts. She allowed just one runner to advance past second base the entire week and gave up four hits or less in all four shutouts
Matthias earned two wins on Friday including a three-hit shutout in the first game of the doubleheader before posting a four-hit shutout in the nightcap against SUU. On Saturday, Matthias threw another four-hitter shutout. In the Hornets’ final non-conference game of the regular season on Tuesday, Matthias threw a five-inning, mercy-rule shortened four-hit shutout of Santa Clara. She is riding a personal eight-game winning streak.
NEC Softball
NEC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Victoria Zamora, LIU Brooklyn
So., C, Orange, CA/El Camino Real
Over the course of five games, Zamora compiled a .571 batting average with two homers and five RBI as the Blackbirds finished 4-1 on the week and a perfect 4-0 in conference play. In the opening game of a twinbill versus Robert Morris on Saturday, Zamora went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, belting her first home run of the weekend in the 4-1 win over the Colonials. In a doubleheader sweep of Fairleigh Dickinson on Sunday, the Orange County, CA product finished 4-for-5 with three runs scored. Zamora leads the Blackbirds in batting average (.378), slugging percentage (.577), on-base percentage (.489) and runs scored (23). She leads the NEC in on-base percentage, and also paces the Blackbirds in RBIs (20), doubles (7) and home runs (5).
NEC SOFTBALL CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Elle Madsen, Bryant
Sr., P, Wheat Ridge, CO/Wheat Ridge
Madsen completed her 3-1 week on the mound with a 0.88 ERA, allowing 14 hits over the course of 24 innings while walking one and fanning 20 batters. The senior earned both wins in Saturday’s doubleheader sweep of Wagner, including a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 game one victory. She combined to toss 11 shutout innings against the Seahawks, yielding just three hits and striking out ten batters. In game two of Sunday’s twinbill against Mount St. Mary’s she threw a complete-game six-hitter, giving up a lone run.
Erynn Sobieski, LIU Brooklyn
So., P, Logan Township, NJ/GCIT
Sobieski earns her third NEC Pitcher of the Week honor following a 3-1 week on the mound, including a perfect 3-0 record against league opposition as the Blackbirds swept doubleheaders with Robert Morris and Fairleigh Dickinson. The sophomore registered a 1.96 ERA over five appearances. Sobieski fanned 14 batters, walked three, and posted a 1.21 ERA over 17.1 innings in four NEC games. In a 4-1 win to open the day against Robert Morris, the righty tossed a complete game seven-hitter. The following afternoon she blanked FDU on one hit while striking out eight over six innings in the 8-0 victory. She closed a 7-5 win in game two with four shutout innings. Sobieski leads the NEC with 11 wins on the year. She is 5-1 with a 2.17 ERA versus conference rivals.
NEC SOFTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Hayley Norton, Saint Francis U
Fr., OF, Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove
Now a five-time NEC Rookie of the Week, Norton hit .467 with three doubles, four RBIs and four runs scored, walked twice and stole a base over four games. The Red Flash finished 2-2 on the week, dropping a pair of games to Pitt before finishing strong with a sweep of Sacred Heart. In game two against Pitt, the Spring Grove product went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. In an 11-2 win over the Pioneers in Saturday’s nightcap, Norton went 4-4 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs. Norton is currently hitting a league-best .600 (12-for-20) in NEC games, including three doubles, three homers and 11 RBIs.
MAAC Softball
