LOUISVILLE, Ky. – University of Indianapolis’ Emily O’Connor and Kenzee Smith swept the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week plaudits for games played March 11-17.
The duo led the sixth-ranked Greyhounds to 10 wins last week, extending the program’s win streak to 16 games. O’Connor hit .500 over this stretch, with 14 base knocks, four home runs, 21 RBI and 16 runs scored. In 37 plate appearances, she reached base at a .622 clip, drawing six walks, getting plunked three times and did not strikeout. O’Connor drove in four runs on four different occasions and scored three runs twice. She was also flawless at the hot corner in 23 chances.
In six appearances and five starts, Smith was 6-0 with a 0.65 ERA, 33 strikeouts and four walks over 32.1 innings. The senior hurler recorded a pair of shutouts against Lake Erie (5 IP, 3 H, 7 K) and Southwest Baptist (6 IP, 3 H, 6 K) and also went the distance in victories over Purdue Northwest and Drury.
The above awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which features two member coaches from each of the NCAA’s eight regions.
Selected Top Performances
Briann Fischer, Adelphi - 4 GP/GS, .615 avg., 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI; Maci Barnhart, Barry - 4 App/1 GS, 4-0, 0.44 ERA, 14 SO, 5 BB, 16 IP; Sarah Davenport, East Stroudsburg - 2 APP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 17 SO in 10.2 IP, 2 BB; Ava Fugate, Colorado Mesa - 6 GP/6 GS, .600 average, 4 2B, 1 HR, 7 RBI, 11 Runs, .950 SLG, .652 OB%, 3 SB, 2 BB, 1 HBP; Christin Haygood, UT Tyler - 3-0, 7 K, 0.00 ERA, 0 R, 9.2 INN; Morgan Hill, Valdosta State - 5 GP/5 GS, 10 H, 8 R, .556 avg., 1 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.111 SLG%, .600 OBP; Kayleigh Jones, Oklahoma Baptist - 3 app/3 GS, 3-0, 0.33 ERA, 34 SO, 6 BB, 21.0, 1 ER, 6 H, no-hitter versus Southern Nazarene; Riley Lingerfelt, Converse - 1.00 ERA, 2 W, 2 APP, 2 GS, 2 CGG, 14.0 IP, 18 K; Ashley Mandell, West Texas A&M - 4 App/1 GS, 3-0, 0.36 ERA, 15 SO, 5 BB, 1 CG, 2 R, 1 ER, 19.2 IP; Brianna McCown, Charleston - 3-0, 20 IP, 0.70 ERA, 8 H, 2, R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 26 Ks, .129 opp BA; Bridgett Morales, Rogers State - 4 GP/4 GS, .500 AVG, 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1.400 SLG, .687 OBP, 6 BB, 1 SB; Abigail O’Shield, Goldey-Beacom - 3 APP/3 GS, 3 CG, 3-0, .61 ERA, 23 inning pitched, 33k, 1BB, 3R, 2ER; Gabby Paliska, Purdue University Northwest - 2 APP/2 GS, 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 10 SO, 1BB, 14 IP, .36 WHIP, Perfect game versus Bentley (10 IP, 9 K); Alyssa Poston, Francis Marion – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 14.1 IP, 0 R, 5 H, 21 K, 2 BB; Madelayne Ruffner, Shepherd - 4 APP, 3 GS, 4-0, 0.69 ERA, 43 SO, 7 BB, 26.0 IP; Gina Kinner, Northwest Nazarene - 3 GS, 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 7 SO, 2 BB, 21 IP; JT Smith, UT Tyler – 6 GP/6 GS, .421, .947 SLG, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 8 R, 8 H, 2 2B, 3B; Kayla Swinson, Saint Leo - 2 App/1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SO, 2 BB, 11.1 IP; Madelyn Vasquez, West Florida - 3 games vs Christian Brothers: 4-6 (.667), 6 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI; Abigail Weirich, East Stroudsburg - 4 GP/4GS, .538 avg., 7 H, 2 2B, 4 RBI, .692 SLG, 5 R, 7-7 SB; Montana Young, West Florida – 2-0, SV, 0.00 ERA, 12 IP, 12 K, 2 BB. Christa Zagala, Colorado Mesa - 3 App/2 GS, 2-0, 1 Shutout, 1.75 ERA, 4K, 1BB, 12. IP.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Louisville Slugger/Player & Wilson/Pitcher of the Week awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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NFCA Division II Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week
