SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – North Dakota’s Madison Pederson and South Dakota’s Clara Edwards received the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week awards, respectively, league officials announced on Monday.
Pederson went 7-for-12 with 11 RBI, including six extra-base hits against St. Thomas. The Fighting Hawks took two of three games from the Tommies to move to 5-6 in League play. The Ham Lake, Minn., native went 6-for-9 with a home run, four doubles, four runs scored and eight RBI in a doubleheader split to open the series.
In the finale, Pederson crushed a three-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth to give UND the lead for good. In total, Pederson registered a 1.417 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base percentage against the Tommies.
Edwards threw USD’s first no-hitter since 2009 and first against a Division I opponent in a seven-inning, two-strikeout performance against Western Illinois. The Clay Center, Kan., native came back with another complete-game performance in the series-clinching win where she fired six innings, allowing two earned runs on three strikeouts.
PEAK PERFORMER OF THE WEEK
Madison Pederson, North Dakota
Sr. | Infield | Ham Lake, Minn.
- Hit .583 in three games last week (7-for-12) with 11 RBI and registered a 1.417 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base percentage
- Produced six extra-base hits, including two home runs and four doubles in a series win over UST
- Belted a three-run, go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Fighting Hawks the lead for good in their series-clinching win vs. St. Thomas
- This is the first career Summit League weekly accolade for Pederson
Also nominated: Aleesia Sainz (South Dakota), Emma Osmundson (South Dakota State), Katie Noble (Kansas City), Avery Wukawitz (Omaha).
PEAK PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Clara Edwards, South Dakota
So. | Pitcher | Clay Center, Kan,
- Threw the program’s first no-hitter since 2009 and first against a Division I opponent in a win over Western Illinois
- Also went 2-for-2 with two RBI in the 3-0 victory over the Leathernecks and added an RBI in the finale
- Came back with another complete-game performance in the series-clinching win, allowing two runs in six innings of work
- Allowed two runs in 13 innings, while striking out five in two wins over the Leathernecks
- This is the fourth career Summit League weekly award for Edwards
Also nominated: Tori Kniesche (South Dakota), Jenna Milan (Kansas City), Sydney Nuismer (Omaha).
2023 Softball Weekly Award Winners
February 13
Peak Performer: Gabby Moser, South Dakota
Co-Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Co-Peak Pitcher: Savannah Rodriguez, Western Illinois
February 20
Peak Performer: Emma Osmundson, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
February 27
Peak Performer: Katie Goelz, St. Thomas
Peak Pitcher: Paige Vargas, North Dakota State
March 6
Peak Performer: Anjolee Aguilar-Beaucage, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
March 13
Peak Performer: Bella Dean, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
March 20
Peak Performer: Carley Goetschius, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Paige Vargas, North Dakota State
March 27
Peak Performer: Carley Goetschius, North Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Kamryn Meyer, Omaha
April 3
Peak Performer: Aleesia Sainz, South Dakota
Peak Pitcher: Kori Wedeking, South Dakota
April 10
Peak Performer: Jocelyn Carrillo, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
April 17
Peak Performer: Madison Pederson, North Dakota
Peak Pitcher: Clara Edwards, South Dakota
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