SUU's Griffin, IPFW's Cronin and NDSU's Menke Named Player and Pitchers of the Week
SUU's Griffin, IPFW's Cronin and NDSU's Menke Named Player and Pitchers of the Week
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ELMHURST, Ill. - Southern Utah's Mikkel Griffin was named The Summit League's Softball Player of the Week, while IPFW's Courtney Cronin and North Dakota State's Krista Menke were named Pitchers of the Week for their performances March 5-11.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Mikkel Griffin, Southern Utah
Jr., OF
St. George, Utah/College of Southern Idaho
Griffin captures her second career Player of the Week honor of the season after leading the Thunderbirds to a series sweep of Oakland to open league play with a near perfect performance at the plate. The junior outfielder opened league play batting 1.000 in a double-header against the Golden Grizzlies. She went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs in game one and 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs and a RBI in game two. She followed that up the next day hitting 3-for-4 with three runs scored. For the week, Griffin recorded an .889 batting average (8-for-9), 1.333 slugging percentage and .909 on-base percentage with a home run, double, seven runs, two stolen bases, two walks and a RBI. The St. George, Utah, native is now on an 11-game hitting streak.
Also nominated: Larissa Franklin, IPFW; Ashley Seering, IUPUI; Megan Ussary, UMKC; Brea Konz, North Dakota State; Alyssa Shriver, Oakland; Katie Dinning, South Dakota; Jamie Goss, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Feb. 13 - Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; Feb. 20 - Amanda Grable, North Dakota State; Feb. 27 - Mikkel Griffin, Southern Utah; March 4 - Courtney Cronin, IPFW.
PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Courtney Cronin, IPFW
Sr., RHP
North Delta, British Columbia/North Delta Senior Secondary
Cronin garners her eighth career Pitcher of the Week honor and first of the season after posting three-straight shutouts with a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings. The right-handed hurler opened the week with a 4-0 victory over Tennessee Tech and then posted back-to-back one-hitters against South Dakota State to kick off league play, recording a career-high 13 strikeouts in game one of the three-game series. On the week, Cronin fanned 22 batters, while yielding five hits, no runs and five walks in 19 innings of work for a perfect 0.00 ERA. Her honor marks the fifth time in league history that an individual has earned both Pitcher and Player of the Week honors in the same season as she was named Player of the Week on March 5.
Krista Menke, North Dakota State
Fr., RHP
Friend, Neb./Friend
Menke earns her first career Pitcher of the Week award after throwing her first career no-hitter and posting a 2-1 record on the week. The Friend, Neb., native recorded a 1-0 no-hitter against Liberty with a career-high seven strikeouts, marking the 21st no-hitter in NDSU history. She picked up her second victory of the week against Monmouth, while her lone loss was against No. 21 Texas A&M. For the week, Menke she threw three complete games, striking out 15 batters in 20 innings of work.
Also nominated: Katie Moy, Oakland; Missy Blackburn, South Dakota; Heather Black, Southern Utah; Kelsey Michelini, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Feb. 13 - Whitney Johnson, North Dakota State; Feb. 20 - Deanna Friese, UMKC; Feb. 27 - Cinda Ramos, UMKC; March 4 - Heather Black, Southern Utah.
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