North Dakota State Sweeps Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week Awards
North Dakota State Sweeps Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week Awards
ELMHURST, Ill. – North Dakota State's Alyssa Reina and Whitney Johnson were named The Summit League's Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week for their performances March 18-24.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alyssa Reina, North Dakota State
Fr. // C // Auburn, Calif.
Reina garners her first career Player of the Week honor after helping the Bison shutout No. 25/20 Nebraska, snapping the Huskers' eight-game winning streak. It was their first lost against a non-ranked team this season. The win marked NDSU's second win over a rank opponent this season and its first victory over the Big Ten team in program history. The freshman catcher went 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in the 13-0 win. In game two, she added another base hit. For the week, Reina hit .667 (4-for-6) with a .714 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage, a triple, three RBI, a run scored and a stolen base.
Also nominated: Eryn Dillon, IUPUI; Liz Broyles, Kansas City; Shannon Cleveland, Oakland; Yvon Minogue, South Dakota; Megg Kelly, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Feb. 11 – Jessica Lam, IUPUI; Feb. 18 – Erika Polidori, OU; Feb. 25 – Liz Broyles, UMKC; March 4 – Brittany Kachur, IPFW & Maritza Lopez-Portillo, NDSU; March 11 – Monica Rondon, WIU; March 18 – Eryn Dillon, IUPUI.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Whitney Johnson, North Dakota State
Sr. // RHP // Lake Crystal, Minn.
Johnson collects her third Pitcher of the Week award this season and the ninth of career after blanking No. 25/20 Nebraska for the Bison's second win over a top-25 team this season and its first victory over the Huskers in program history. The win broke The Huskers' eight-game win streak and gave them their first lost against a non-ranked opponent this season. The right-handed hurler threw her sixth shutout of the season and 31st of career, striking out six and just allowing four hits and one walk. On the week, Johnson was 1-0 with six strikeouts, while yielding four hits and a walk for a 0.00 ERA in seven innings of work. She held the Huskers to a mere .160, who have a .295 team batting average on the season. The senior has recorded both victories over NDSU's rank opponents this season in shutout fashion.
Also nominate: Jocelyn Oppenhuis, IUPUI; Deanna Friese, Kansas City; Erin Kownacki, Oakland; Erica Denney, South Dakota; Kelsey Michelini, Western Illinois.
Previous winners: Feb. 11 – Dana Elsasser, UNO; Feb. 18 – Whitney Johnson, NDSU; Feb. 25 – Dana Elsasser, UNO; March 4 – Miranda Kramer, IPFW & Whitney Johnson, NDSU; March 11 – Dana Elsasser, UNO; March 18 – Madison Frain, USD.
ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
Entering its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 144,000 at nine universities, four of which are located in top 58 U.S. metro populations (Detroit, Indianapolis, Kansas City and Omaha). Member institutions include: Fort Wayne (Indiana-Purdue-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), Kansas City (University of Missouri-Kansas City), North Dakota State University, Oakland University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced 54 All-Americans, 37 Academic All-America selections and seven NCAA Championships. For more information about the league and its history, visit www.thesummitleague.org to "See The Summit" or follow on Twitter @thesummitleague.
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