KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced its first Softball Athletes of the Week, presented by
Mammoth Turf, for the 2022 season. Emporia State’s Brittanie Shepard was selected as the first Hitter of the Week and Northeastern State’s Gail Young was voted the Association’s first Pitcher of the Week.
MIAA Hitter of the Week – Brittanie Shepard – Emporia State
Brittanie Shepherd went 10-for-12 with seven runs and six RBI as Emporia State opened the season 3-1 at the Ronnie Hawkins/Mike McGhee Memorial Tournament in Arkadelphia, Ark. In the Hornets 4-1 season opening win against Ouachita Baptist, Shepard was 2-for-3 with double, a run scored and an RBI. The senior then went 2-for-3 with two runs in the Hornets 7-6 loss to Oklahoma Baptist. Against Henderson State on Sunday, Shepard went four for a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored in ESU’s 13-1 run rule victory. She ended opening weekend going 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, a run and an RBI in ESU’s 7-5 come from behind win over Arkansas Monticello.
MIAA Pitcher of the Week – Gail Young – Northeastern State
Gail Young allowed only three hits in 13 innings pitched for the RiverHawks in two starts over opening weekend. The fifth-year senior never allowed an extra-base hit and struck out 15 batters. She broke the NSU career program record with a shutout win over Ouachita Baptist with her 61st career win. Batters hit .071 against Young in her 13 innings.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Hitters
Sydni Hawkins – Missouri Western
The 2021 MIAA Offensive Player of the Year picked up where she left off in the 2022 opening weekend. In five games, the junior infielder went 9-18 from the plate with eight RBI, four runs scored, an on-base percentage of .550 and on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.217. Hawkins hit safely in all six games and has an 11-game hitting streak going back to 2021.
Chelsea Spain – Rogers State
Chelsea Spain helped the Hillcats to a 4-0 start to the 2022 campaign. In the four games, she went a combined 6-for-10 with five RBI, four runs scored and one extra base hit. Her best game of the set came in the 7-3 win over Angelo State, hitting 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored.
Pitchers
Andrea Morales – Rogers State
Andrea Morales went 2-0 in the circle to start the 2022 campaign. In the 6-3 win against Angelo State on Saturday, Morales threw a complete game with 12 strikeouts while only allowing three runs on six hits with three walks. In the 5-1 win against St. Mary’s, Morales tossed another complete game with seven strikeouts and only allowing one run on five hits with one walk.
ALSO NOMINATED
Hitters: Addy Wolfe – Northeastern State, Hadley Kerschen – Washburn
Pitchers: Ericka Flynn – Fort Hays State, Sydney Righi – Emporia State