Softball Player of the Week
Allie Cummins, Miami University
Infielder, Junior, West Chester, Ohio/Lakota West
Allie Cummins had an incredible weekend at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. Through four games over the weekend, the junior from West Chester, Ohio hit .455, going 5-for-11 with three doubles and a home run and 5 RBI. Her slugging percentage for the weekend was outstanding at 1.000. In addition, Cummins worked opponent pitching for four walks and had zero strikeouts which raised her on base percentage for the weekend to .600. Cummins added a stolen base and scored five times for the RedHawks as they took 3 out of the 4 games played in Louisville last weekend.
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Courtney Vierstra, Miami University
Pitcher, Senior, Thornville, Ohio/Lakewood
Vierstra was spectacular in two outings at the Cardinal Classic in Louisville, Kentucky over the weekend. The senior threw two complete-game shutouts in wins over Bradley (11-0) on Saturday and the host Louisville Cardinals (4-0) on Sunday. Vierstra pitched 6.1 innings of no-hit softball against the Braves, striking out nine and walking only one en route to the 11-0 victory. She followed that up with twelve strikeouts and only one base on balls in the 4-0 win vs the Cardinals. Allowing no one to score over the weekend, Vierstra held the opponents to a combined .125 batting average over the weekend as the RedHawks took three of four games at the Cardinal Classic.
Other Nominees
?Sydney Stefanick, Western Michigan
1B, SeniorJohnstown, OH / Johnstown
Stefanick hit .533 on the weekend at the Adam Brown Memorial Shamrock Tournament, hosted by Central Arkansas. The senior contributed a double and four RBI in a weekend that saw the Broncos go 1-4, but drop a pair of one-run contests. After going 1-for-2 in the weekend opener, a one-run loss to Stephen F. Austin, she provided the spark in a 13-5 win over Mississippi Valley State, going 4-for-4 with an RBI, double and two runs scored. She went 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored in another one-run setback to Stephen F. Austin on Saturday night. On the season, Stefanick ranks third in the MAC with a .462 batting average, as well as third with 11 RBI. Her .548 on-base percentage is good for fifth in the league, while her .731 slugging percentage slots sixth.
Faith Hensley, Ball State
Outfield, Junior, Monroe, Ohio (Monroe)
Ball State junior outfielder Faith Hensley has a solid week for the Cardinals, leading the team with eight RBI and two home runs at the Bulldog Invitational hosted by No. 18 Mississippi State. Over five games in the tournament, Hensley finished with a .385 (5-of-13) average, while also drawing a pair of walks and being hit by a pitch once for a .500 on base percentage. Her biggest game came in BSU’s 10-3 in over Alcorn State (March 6), when she went a perfect 4-for-4 with seven RBI, her first career grand slam, a three-run home run and a pair of stolen bases. Overall, she reached base safely in all five games last week and also scored four runs.
Anna Dixon, Toledo
Right Field, JuniorNovi, Mich./Farmington Hills
Junior RF Anna Dixon led Toledo with a .600 batting average in five games at The Spring Games last weekend. She registered a team-high nine hits and scored a team-best five runs. Here best performance was a 3-for-3 outing vs. New Mexico State and she also collected two hits vs. Stetson and North Dakota.
Katie Keller, Northern Illinois University
C/OF, Jr., Geneva, Ill./Geneva
The catalyst for the Huskie offense during a three-game weekend series at Grand Canyon, Katie Keller batted .500, while slugging 1.000. She tallied four hits, two for extra bases, including a home run, in eight at bats. Her home run in the series finale was her first of the season. She scored four runs starting all three games for the Huskies.
Tieghan Morio, Ball State
Starting Pitcher, Junior, Mascoutah, Ill.
Junior Tieghan Morio led the Ball State pitching staff with a 0.00 ERA over her three appearances at the Bulldog Invitational hosted by No. 18 Mississippi State. In her first appearance Friday, she threw 2.0 innings of hitless softball, keeping the Cardinals hope of a come-from-behind win over Western Kentucky alive. She followed with her first complete game win of the season, pitching all 7.0 innings in Ball State's 10-3 win over Alcorn State. She limited the Lady Braves to just six hits in the game, while surrendering three unearned runs. She also struck out three batters in the game. She closed the week with 3.0 more innings of work against Alcorn State Sunday, limiting them to just one hit and one unearned run. She also registered a strikeout in the game. Morio leads a strong Ball State pitching staff with a 0.67 ERA this season over a team-high 21.0 innings of work. She has a 2-1 record and is holding opponents to a .135 average.
McKenna Schmidt, Toledo
Pitcher, Sophomore, Monroe, Mich./Dundee
Sophomore McKenna Schmidt hurled a two-hit shutout in an 8-0 victory over South Dakota on Saturday night. She also walked only one batter and struck out two Coyotos.
Claire Norred, Northern Illinois University
Pitcher, Fr.Tipton, Ind./Tipton
Claire Norred put in two solid starts, allowing seven runs, two earned, in two starts at Grand Canyon. The Huskie freshman posted a 1.27 ERA in 11 innings of work. Her best performance came in the series opener where she threw six innings, allowing two unearned runs, while scattering eight hits and striking out five in a 2-1 setback to the Lopes.
