USD’s Jones, UNO’s Elsasser Capture Weekly Softball Awards

4/28/2014 12:00:00 AM

ELMHURST, Ill. – South Dakota's Matley Jones and Omaha's Dana Elsasser were named The Summit League's Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week for their performances April 21-27.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Matley Jones, South Dakota
Jr. // 1B // Lincoln, Neb.
Jones collects her first career Player of the Week award after helping the Coyotes to a 4-1 record with four multi-hit games, including a pair of perfect performances at the plate. The junior opened the week hitting 4-for-4 with two doubles and two runs scored in a 6-5 extra-inning in loss to Iowa State. She added a double and a run scored in game two's 12-3 victory over the Cyclones. The first baseman led South Dakota to a series sweep over instate league rival South Dakota State. In Saturday's doubleheader, she went 3-for-3 with a double, a RBI and a run in game one, while tallying a pair of doubles, two RBI and a run in game two. For the week, Jones hit .647 (11-for-17) with a .667 on-base percentage, six doubles, five runs scored, three RBI and a walk. She recorded 17 putouts and one assist with no errors in the field.

Also nominated: Ashleigh Bousquet, Fort Wayne; Lindsey Richards, IUPUI; Amanda Grable, North Dakota State; Allie Mathewson, Omaha.

Previous honorees: 2/10 – Kayti Hanson, Fort Wayne; 2/17 – Larissa Franklin, Fort Wayne; 2/24 – Amber Lutmer, Omaha; 3/3 – Dani Pugh, Fort Wayne; 3/10 – Amanda Grable, North Dakota State & Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 3/17 – Katie Dinning, South Dakota; 3/24 – Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 3/31 – Sammy Marshall, Western Illinois; 4/7 – Ali Mosier, IUPUI; 4/14 – Hillary Kartman, Fort Wayne; 4/21 – Lizzie Noble, Omaha.

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Dana Elsasser, Omaha
Sr. // RHP // Hershey, Neb.
Elsasser earns her seventh career Pitcher of the Week honor and third this season after going undefeated (3-0) with three complete-game shutouts. The right-handed hurler started the week with her first career no-hitter striking out five in an 8-0 win over North Dakota. She followed that up with a one-hit performance in the 8-0 victory against IUPUI fanning four batters. In the series finale, the senior retired five more batters on strikes while allowing six hits in the 5-0 win. On the week, Elsasser posted a perfect 0.00 ERA and held her opponents to a combined .127 batting average with 14 strikeouts, while yielding seven hits and three walks in 17 innings of work.

Also nominated: Megan Flenniken, Fort Wayne; Jocelyn Oppenhuis, IUPUI; Krista Menke, North Dakota State; Rachel Cue, South Dakota.

Previous honorees: 2/10 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 2/17 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 2/24 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State & Dana Elsasser, Omaha; 3/3 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne & Cassie Vodde, IUPUI; 3/10 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State & Dana Elsasser, Omaha; 3/17 – Megan Flenniken, Fort Wayne; 3/24 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne; 3/31 – Megan Flenniken, Fort Wayne; 4/7 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State; 4/14 – Krista Menke, North Dakota State & Rachel Cue, South Dakota; 4/21 – Miranda Kramer, Fort Wayne & Krista Menke, North Dakota State.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
In its fourth decade of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of over 120,000 at eight institutions, including three located in top 60 U.S. metro populations and two land-grant universities. Member institutions include: Denver (University of Denver), Fort Wayne (Indiana University-Purdue University-Fort Wayne), IUPUI (Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis), North Dakota State 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 eight NCAA Champions, 62 All-Americans and 50 Academic All-America selections.

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