Frenz and Venker Share Weekly Pitching Honors
MAC Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week
Alex Frenz, Northern Illinois
Pitcher, Senior, Oakville, Mo./Oakville
Alex Frenz was nearly unhittable in her four appearances at the Husky Classic hosted by Washington. The Huskie senior threw NIU's first perfect game since 1995 in a 9-0 victory over Idaho State. Frenz struck out four Bengals in he first career perfect game and the Huskie defense played an error-free game behind her. The Oakville, Mo. native tallied a 0.88 ERA on the weekend, allowing allowing four runs, two earned. She did not allow a run in her first 11 innings in the circle on the weekend. She suffered the loss in NIU's 2-0 setback to Washington Saturday in a game where NIU's offense was no hit. She held opponents to a .182 batting average allowing 10 hits and a walk in 16 innings pitched, while striking out seven.
Sarah Venker, Ball State
Starting Pitcher, Freshman, Houston, Texas / Episcopal
Freshman pitcher Sarah Venker shined in her two appearances in the circle last weekend for the Ball State softball team, picking up a pair of complete game shutout victories. She opened the week with a dominating performance in the 1-0 win at Bethune-Cookman (March 6), tying her career high with 10 strikeouts, while limiting the Wildcats to just a pair of hits over her 7.0 innings of work. She followed with another strong outing versus Georgetown (March 9), limiting the Hoyas to just a pair of hits over 5.0 innings, while striking out five more batters.
MAC Softball Player of the Week
Haley Dominique, Ball State
Left Field, Junior, Oregon, Ohio / Clay
Junior Haley Dominique played a big role in leading the Ball State softball team to a perfect 6-0 record last week, leading the team in batting average (.467), slugging percentage (1.267), on base percentage (.600), RBI (7) and runs scored (6). Dominique reached base safely in all six games, including at least one hit in five of the games. Of her seven total hits on the week, three were doubles and three were home runs. Dominique scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the nightcap versus Bethune-Cookman, after doubling to left-center field to open the game. In the 4-2 win over Cleveland State, Dominique drove in the first three runs of the game, including what proved to be the game-winner. She opened the contest with her first home run of the season, drew and RBI walk in the second inning, and belted her second home run of the season in the fifth for what proved to be the game-winning run. Dominique drew another RBI walk in the win over North Florida, added a two-run double in the victory over Georgetown and drove in the game-winning run versus Presbyterian with another leadoff home run. Dominique currently leads the Ball State offense with a .321 batting average this season, including seven doubles, two triples and three home runs. Her 15 runs scored also lead the team, while her 15 RBI are tied for second.
Other Piching Nominees
Kaitlyn Bean, Central Michigan
RHP, Freshman, Oxford, Mich./Oxford HS
Bean 1-1 during CMU's Spring Break trip to Clearwater, Fla. She struck out 14, walked just two, and allowed five earned runs over 14 2/3 innings for a 2.38 earned run average. Bean pitched a complete game in CMU's 1-0 loss to Penn, and was solid in the circle in her other two starts, which resulted in a 2-1 victory over Army West Point and a 3-1 loss to Big Ten foe Penn State.
Brianna Pratt, Miami
Pitcher, Freshman, Perrysburg, Ohio (Perrysburg)
Freshman pitcher Brianna Pratt pitched in both of the RedHawks' wins this weekend, earning one win as the starter and earning a save as relief. She allowed only one run on four hits in her six innings pitched, while striking out eight batters. Pratt did not allow an extra-base hit this weekend as batters facing her only batted .182. Pratt started the game against Green Bay in which Miami won 6-1. In four innings of work, she gave up only one hit, allowing no runs or walks and striking out five. Pratt earned the save in the RedHawks' win at Southern Illinois during their home opener. She entered the game after one batter in the sixth inning and pitched for two innings to hold off a late push by the Salukis.
Other Player Nominees
Shaidan Knapp, Central Michigan
OF, Sophomore, Vicksburg, Mich./Vicksburg HS
Knapp, the Chippewas' leadoff hitter, hit . 409 with a .480 on-base percentage as the Chippewas closed their Spring Break trip to Clearwater, Fla. Knapp finished the week with nine hits, two for extra bases, in 22 at-bats.
Katie Keller, Northern Illinois
C, Freshman, Geneva, Ill./Geneva
The catalyst for the Huskie offense during NIU's appearance in the Husky Classic hosted by Washington, Katie Keller led the team with a .545 batting average and an .818 slugging percentage. She recorded a team-best six hits, including 3 doubles and coaxed four walks. She was a key contributor in NIU's 9-0 going a perfect 2-for-2 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. She was 2-for-4 with a run scored and three stolen bases in NIU's 4-3 victory over Seattle.
Jenny Vasquez, Miami
Infielder, Senior, Norwalk, Calif. (Norwalk High School/Cypress College)
Senior infielder Jenny Vasquez led the Miami offense this weekend as they put up 14 runs in three games at the Saluki Invitational. Vasquez led Miami's roster in batting average (.500), runs (3), hits (5), doubles (3), RBI (5), total bases (11) and was second among starts in slugging percentage (1.100) and on-base percentage (.545). She was perfect in the field. In the 7-5 win against Southern Illinois, Vasquez gave Miami an early lead with a grand slam in the first inning, almost completing the cycle as she also hit a single and a double later in the game. In the 6-1 win against Green Bay, Vasquez scored both times she reached base, also getting an RBI when she hit a double. She also hit a double against Iowa.
Sydney Stefanick, Western Michigan
Pitcher / DH, Johnstown, Ohio/Johnstown
Western Michigan sophomore Sydney Stefanick hit .481 (13-for-27) over eight games this past week with four home runs, including a walk-off three-run HR, and another game tying-HR in the bottom of the seventh in an eight-inning win. She had 13 RBIs and three doubles. She also went 2-1 as a pitcher, with a 1.77 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
