SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota third baseman Aleesia Sainz and South Dakota State pitcher Tori Kniesche received the TicketSmarter Summit League Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, league officials announced on Monday.
Sainz belted a pair of home runs in four games at the Memphis Tournament this past weekend. In her first game against Central Arkansas, Sainz smacked her first home run of the tournament and smoked a three-run shot in the second game against SE Louisiana.
The Casa Grande, Ariz., native recorded a .308 batting average with a .846 slugging percentage and a .357 on-base percentage. Sainz walked once, recorded a double and scored five runs. Sainz leads all Summit League players with seven home runs and her 18 RBI rank fourth.
Kniesche recorded two wins at the Santa Barbara Spring Break Bash against UC Santa Barbara and Princeton. She put together strong performances for the Jackrabbits, tossing back-to-back complete-game shutouts. Against the Gauchos, Kniesche struck out five batters while allowing just three hits in seven innings of work.
Against the Tigers, she matched her career-high with 12 strikeouts. In total, the Wayne, Neb., native did not walk any batters and her opponents averaged .176 at the plate. Kniesche and the SDSU defense sat opponents down in order in seven of her 14 innings of action.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Aleesia Sainz, South Dakota
Jr. | Third Base | Casa Grande, Ariz.
- Batted .308 with two home runs, four hits, a double, a walk, scored five runs and drove in four RBI
- Finished the weekend with a .846 slugging percentage and a .357 on-base percentage
- Leads the League with seven home runs and ranks fourth with 18 RBI
- This is the first career Summit League weekly accolade for Sainz
Also nominated: Dez Cardenas (North Dakota State); Peyton Daugherty (South Dakota State)
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
So. | Pitcher | Wayne, Neb.
- Tossed back-to-back complete-game shutouts in wins against UC Santa Barbara and Princeton
- Struck out 17 batters on the weekend, including matching a career-high 12 against the Tigers
- Didn’t walk a batter and her opponents averaged .176 at the plate while retiring batters in order in seven of her 14 innings of action
- This is the fourth Summit League weekly accolade for Kniesche in her career
Also nominated: Mac Schulz (North Dakota State); Christian Crawford (St. Thomas); Grace Garcia (South Dakota)
2022 Softball Weekly Award Winners
February 14
Player: Bela Goerke, South Dakota
Pitcher: Clara Edwards, South Dakota
February 21
Player: Emilee Buringa, North Dakota State
Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
February 28
Player: Tatum Villotta, South Dakota
Pitcher: Clara Edwards, South Dakota
March 7
Player: Delainey Fenoglio, Kansas City
Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
March 14
Player: Aleesia Sainz, South Dakota
Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
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