MAC Softball Co-Player of the Week
Jada Dotson, Miami
Outfielder/DPJunior White House, Tenn. / Ensworth
Junior outfielder Jada Dotson led the Miami offense at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga last weekend, going 8-of-11 (.727) on the weekend, including four doubles and six RBI. Dotson wrapped up the weekend with a perfect 4-of-4 effort at the plate in the 4-2 win against Saint Louis, accounting for all three of the RedHawks' RBI's and a run herself, while two of her four hits were doubles. Dotson went 3-of-4 against Southern Illinois Edwardsville, once again hitting two doubles and leading the roster with two RBI's. She got onto base twice against Saint Francis and added an RBI. On the week, Dotson led Miami in batting average (.727), hits (8), doubles (4), RBI (6), slugging percentage (1.091) and on-base percentage (.750).
Stacy Payton, Ball State
Catcher / 3B, Junior, Brazil, Ind. / Northview
Junior Stacy Payton helped guide the Cardinals to a perfect 5-0 weekend and the Hilltopper Classic championship by leading the team with 12 RBI and ranking second on the squad with five runs scored on the weekend ... She reached base safely in all five games, scored at least one run in four, while collecting at least two RBI in three ... She scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the weekend opener versus Green Bay (Feb. 21) after walking to reach base in the bottom of the first inning ... She blasted a pair of home runs, including her second career grand slam, in Friday's win over Indiana State (Feb. 21) to account for six of the 10 runs ... In Saturday's win over Green Bay (Feb. 22), she blasted a two-run double in the third and followed with a two-run single in the fourth ... In Sunday's championship game win over Indiana State (Feb. 23), she helped the Cardinals rally from down four in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run home run to open the scoring in BSU's six-run rally.
MAC Softball Pitcher of the Week
Payton Gottshall, Bowling Green
Pitcher, Freshman, Massillon, Ohio (Perry)
Bowling Green freshman pitcher Payton Gottshall went 4-0 with an ERA of just 0.72, and was named the tournament MVP as the Falcons went undefeated at the Tiger Classic in Nashville over the weekend. She allowed a total of two runs in 19 2/3 innings of work, seeing action in all four of BG’s games and allowing opponents to bat just .111 against her. For the second-straight weekend, Gottshall pitched a complete-game one-hitter in the Falcons’ opening game of the weekend, with 11 strikeouts in a win over the host school, Tennessee State. The next day, she came on in relief in the eighth inning of a tie game vs. CCSU. The Blue Devils had a runner on second with one out, and Gottshall struck out both batters she faced to retire the side. She picked up the win as BG walked it off in the bottom of the eighth. Then, that evening, she scattered four hits en route to the first shutout of her young career, an 8-0 victory over Rider in five innings. Gottshall allowed just one walk while striking out eight. On Sunday, she closed the weekend with a complete-game two-hitter in a 7-1 victory over Creighton. Gottshall again struck out eight while walking two. On the season, Gottshall is 6-2 in the circle with an ERA of just 1.28 and an opponent batting average of .150. She has pitched in eight of BGSU’s nine games, and has five complete games in her six starts, as well as 65 strikeouts on the young season.
Other Player Nominees
Brooke Rice, Ohio
Catcher, Junior, Mason, Ohio (Mason) "
Junior catcher Brooke Rice (Mason, Ohio) had a career weekend at the plate for the Bobcats. Overall, she hit .471 with eight hits, two runs scored, one double, one homerun and four RBI. She also recorded 12 total bases, slugged .706 and drew one walk and only struck out once. Behind the plate, Rice has a perfect fielding percentage with no errors, 25 putouts, two assists and had one caught stealing. On Feb. 21 against Army, Rice went 3-for-4 with a double and run scored in Ohio's 8-4 victory. Later in the day, Rice went 3-for-4 with one run and three RBI. Rice hit a homerun to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning before coming back one inning later for the walk-off RBI single to give Ohio the 7-6 victory. Then on Feb. 22 against Charleston Southern, Rice went 2-for-4 in the Bobcats' 8-2 victory
Dayna Denner, Toledo
Third Base, Junior, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio (Cuyahoga Heights)
Junior third baseman Dayna Denner had an outstanding performance for the Rockets this weekend, going 4-for-8 at the plate with one home run and three RBIs. Denner played a crucial role in the Rockets’ 3-2 victory over Radford, cracking a two-run homer in the first inning and scoring the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth. She then was part of a crucial double play in the top of the seventh to secure the fourth win of the season for Toledo. Denner knocked in what would be the winning run in the top of the eighth in a 5-0 extra-inning victory over Sacred Heart with an RBI single. The Brooklyn Heights, Ohio native went 1-for-3 in Toledo’s final game of the weekend against Hampton, scoring one of the Rockets’ three runs in the third inning.
Evelyn Loyola, Bowling Green
Catcher / DP, Senior, Ventura, Calif. (Buena)(Howard [Texas] Coll.)
Bowling Green senior Evelyn Loyola hit .500 with an on-base percentage of .692 as the Falcons were a perfect 4-0 at the Tiger Classic in Nashville. Loyola reached base nine times in 13 total plate appearances in the four games, leading the Falcons in walks, OBP and RBI while ranking second on the team in batting average, doubles, total bases and slugging pct. In the first game of the weekend, Loyola reached base in all four plate appearances, with a pair of hits (including a double) and a pair of walks in a 7-1 win over the host school, Tennessee State. She scored a run and drove in two in that game. Loyola had a double in two at-bats in the win over Central Connecticut State the following afternoon, then walked two more times with an RBI in BG’s 8-0, five-inning victory over Rider that evening. On Sunday, she had an RBI single and drew a walk in four trips to the plate in another 7-1 win, this time against Creighton. Loyola was named to the Tiger Classic All-Tournament Team.
Other Pitcher Nominees
Madi McCrady, Ohio
Pitcher, Junior, Brimfield, Ohio (Walsh Jesuit)
Junior pitcher Madi McCrady led Ohio this week, recording a 2.92 ERA in two appearances with two games started and one complete game. In 12.0 innings she allowed six runs, five earned, walked three and struck out six. On Feb. 21 against Army in the first game of the Charleston Invitational, McCrady pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs, three earned on 11 hits, walked one and struck out four in Ohio's 8-4 victory. McCrady was back in the circle the next day against Charleston Southern, pitching live innings, allowing two runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out two in Ohio's 8-2 win.
Erin Hunt, Toledo
Pitcher, Junior, Dansville, Mich. (Dansville)
Junior Erin Hunt was a rock for the Rockets in the circle at the Pirate Classic, earning wins over Radford and Sacred Heart in a pair of complete game victories. In her first appearance of the weekend, Hunt struck out nine batters on route to a 3-2 win over Radford. The Dansville, Mich. native earned her fourth win of the year against Sacred Heart, tossing her second one-hitter of the season in eight innings of work. Hunt struck out six batters in the 5-0 victory.
Courtney Vierstra, Miami
Pitcher, Junior, Thornville, Ohio / Lakewood
Junior pitcher Courtney Vierstra was the work horse of the Miami pitching staff last weekend in Chattanooga as she earned both of Miami's wins and appeared in all five games. Vierstra pitched 23.2 innings and struck out 41 batters as she moved into fifth in program history in career strikeouts (501). She began the weekend with a complete game against UNLV, allowing no earned runs and just two hits in six innings pitched while striking out 12 batters. Vierstra came into the game against Chattanooga during the fourth inning and closed the game allowing no runs on one hit. She struck out nine Chattanooga batters including striking out the side in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn the victory. Vierstra reached double-figure strikeouts for the second time on the weekend against Saint Francis, striking out 11. She closed the weekend with six innings pitched against Saint Louis to earn the win. Vierstra struck out nine against Saint Louis and allowed just one earned run.
Alyssa Rothwell, Ball State
Starting Pitcher, Senior, Ashville, Ohio / Teays Valley
Picked up Ball State's first complete game shutout of the season, limiting Green Bay to just three hits and a pair of walks in Friday's 8-0 (5) victory ... She also struck out six batters in the game ... Pitch 4.2 innings of relief to earn the win over Western Kentucky, limiting the Hilltoppers to four hits and two runs, only one of which was earned, while striking out four more batters ... Started Sunday's Hilltopper Classic championship game versus Indiana State, throwing the first 3.0 innings and limiting the Sycamores to four hits and two runs, while also fanning a pair of batters.
