North Dakota State Sweeps Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week
ELMHURST, Ill. - North Dakota State's Taylor Mortensen and
Whitney Johnson were named Summit League Softball Players and
Pitcher of the Week for their performances during the week of April
18-25.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Taylor Mortensen, North Dakota State
Jr., RF (Sioux Falls, S.D./Lincoln)
Mortensen earners her first career Player of the Week
honor after leading North Dakota State to a three-game sweep of
South Dakota State. To open the series, she went a perfect 2-for-2
with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored in game one of the
doubleheader and then went 1-for-2 with two runs scored in game
two. To complete the series sweep, the right fielder again went
2-for-2 with a homer run, three RBI and two runs scored. For the
week, Mortensen posted two perfect multi-hit games with a .714
batting average (5-for-7), a 1.571 slugging percentage and a .818
on-base percentage. She tallied two homers, six runs scored, five
RBI and four walks.
Also nominated: Julie Love, IUPUI; Danielle Bennefeld, UMKC;
Kylie Schalz, Oakland; Ashley Durazo, South Dakota State; Kadi
Henderson, Southern Utah; Erin Schlotfeldt, Western
Illinois.
Previous Winners: April 18 - Leah Prewitt, IUPUI; April 11 -
Katie Tamayo, North Dakota State; April 4 - Sarah Swanson, IPFW;
March 28 - Erin Schlotfeldt, Western Illinois; March 21 - Rachel
Stascuk, IPFW & Tina Winter, South Dakota State; March 14 -
Hannah Croucher, IUPUI; March 7 - Krista Honken, South Dakota
State; Feb. 28 - Kelsey Krych, Oakland; Feb. - 21 Emily Ott, UMKC;
Feb. 14 - Megan Ussary, UMKC.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Whitney Johnson, North Dakota State
So., RHP (Lake Crystal, Minn./Lake Crystal-Wellcome
Memorial)
Johnson captures her third career Pitcher of the Week honor
and first of the season after recording three wins and throwing two
one-hit shutouts in North Dakota State's three-game sweep of South
Dakota State. She opened the series with her first of two one-hit
shutouts on the weekend, fanning 10 batters. The right-handed
hurler came right back to post her second victory of the day as she
tied a career-high 14 strikeouts in the extra inning victory. In
the final game of the series, she recorded her second one-hit
shutout of the weekend retiring six batters on strikes. For the
week, Johnson posted a perfect 3-0 record, struck out 30 batters,
while surrendering nine hits, five earned runs and only two walks
in 18 innings of work. She posted a 1.94 ERA and held the
Jackrabbits to a .150 batting average for the series. With the
three wins, Johnson extended her winning streak to 11 games and has
recorded a one-hitter in three of her last four games.
Also nominated: Nikki Thomas, IUPUI; Deanne Friese, UMKC;
Kara Bendt, Southern Utah; Kelsey Michelini, Western
Illinois.
Previous Winners: April 18 - Deanna Friese, UMKC; April 11
- Heather Black, Southern Utah; April 4 - Courtney Cronin, IPFW;
March 28 - Deannna Friese, UMKC; March 21 - Courtney Cronin, IPFW;
March 14 - Nikki Thomas, IUPUI; March 7 - Courtney Cronin, IPFW;
Feb. 28 - Courtney Cronin, IPFW; Feb. 21 - Ashley Campbell, Western
Illinois; Feb. 14 - Deanna Friese, UMKC.
- SUMMIT -
