WIU’s Marlow, Fort Wayne’s Benefiel Claim #SummitSB Weekly Honors

4/2/2018 12:00:00 AM

ELMHURST, Ill. – Western Illinois infielder Kelsey Marlow collected her first-career Summit League Player of the Week award, while Fort Wayne pitcher Bailey Benefiel secured the league's Pitcher of the Week title for the second time this season. The two earned the awards for their performances during the week of March 26 – April 1.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
KELSEY MARLOW, WESTERN ILLINOIS
Sr. // IF // Terre Haute, Ind.

Earned her first-career Player of the Week accolade
Hit .643 with an on-base percentage of .643 and a slugging percentage of .929
Broke a program record for hits in a game with five hits against South Dakota in the third game of the series
Hit two doubles and a triple and recorded eight RBI to lead the Leathernecks to their first ever sweep of league-foe South Dakota
Leads the league in batting average (.643) in league games only
Helped the team to 20 runs on 25 hits in a 20-12 win against South Dakota Saturday

Also nominated: Courtney Holm, Fort Wayne; Vanessa Anderson, North Dakota State; Jessica Rogers, South Dakota; Ali Herdliska, South Dakota State

Previous recipients: Feb. 12 – Alyssa Fernandez, South Dakota; Feb. 19 – Alyssa Fernandez, South Dakota; Feb. 26 – Baily Janssen, South Dakota State; March 5 – Jessica Rogers, South Dakota; March 12 – Kelly Pattison, Omaha; March 19 – Jessica Rogers, South Dakota; March 26 – Jessica Rogers, South Dakota

PITCHER OF THE WEEK
BAILEY BENEFIEL, FORT WAYNE
Sr. // P // Pendleton, Ind.

Collected her second-career Pitcher of the Week honor, second this season
Went 1-0 with two appearances on the week
Struck out nine in 10.1 innings pitched with a 1.35 ERA
Did not walk a batter on the week
Pitched a complete game in a 3-2 win over Northern Kentucky, striking out seven (the second-most by any team against NKU this season)
Did not allow a run in 3.1 innings of relief against Bowling Green
Ranks second in the league in ERA (2.85), third in wins (9) and third in strikeouts (100)

Also nominated: Madison Hope, South Dakota State; Payton Abbott, Western Illinois

Previous recipients: Feb. 12 – Bailey Benefiel, Fort Wayne; Feb. 19 – Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State; Feb. 26 – Emily Ira, Western Illinois; March 5 – Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State; March 12 – Madison Hope, South Dakota State; March 19 – Jacquelyn Sertic, North Dakota State; March 26 – Madison Hope, South Dakota State

ABOUT THE SUMMIT LEAGUE
Through 35 years of Division I athletics, The Summit League offers 19 championship sports and has a combined enrollment of nearly 100,000 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), North Dakota State University, Omaha (University of Nebraska Omaha), Oral Roberts University, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University and Western Illinois University with the University of North Dakota becoming an official member on July 1, 2018. Previously known as the Mid-Continent Conference, The Summit League rebranded in 2007 and has since produced nine NCAA Champions along with over 90 Academic All-Americans, nearly 100 All-America selections and numerous former student-athletes competing at the highest professional level. For more information about the league, visit www.thesummitleague.org website, follow The Summit League on Twitter @thesummitleague.

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