[2023 MIAA Softball Athletes of the Week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its Softball Athletes of the Week for the seventh week of the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Hitter of the Week – Shayla Harper – Central Oklahoma    
Shayla Harper led Central Oklahoma to a neutral site sweep of Northern State in the Bronchos only games of the week after the annual MIAA/NSIC Crossover Challenge was canceled due to inclement weather. Harper hit .667 with three homers and eight RBI in the two games. The senior third baseman had a two-run homer in UCO’s 10-2 first-game rout, then hit a grand slam and a two-run homer in a six-RBI outing during the Bronchos 13-1 second-game romp.
 
MIAA Pitcher of the Week – Savannah Evans – Northeastern State
Savannah Evans spun Northeastern State’s second no-hitter of the year, needing 60 pitches to beat Northern State 11-0 in five innings. The junior faced just one over the minimum and struck out five batters. Evans came in relief in the fifth inning with the bases loaded and forced an inning-ending ground ball. She went 2.2 innings, allowing two singles, and struck out two batters for her second save of the year. At the plate, Evans batted .500 (5-for-10) and scored five runs. She also hit her eighth homer of the season, scoring three runs in the fourth inning.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Hitters
Sarah Tiffany – Fort Hays State
Sarah Tiffany led the Tigers with seven RBI this past week as Fort Hays State went 3-1 in games against MSU Denver and CSU Pueblo. Tiffany collected the majority of her RBI in the doubleheader sweep of CSU Pueblo after generating one on a fielder’s choice in the doubleheader at MSU Denver. In the 6-3 game one win at CSU Pueblo, the junior center fielder pushed the Tigers into the lead with her second career grand slam turning a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead. In game two, she had a game-tying RBI on a ground out making the score 1-1 in the third. Tiffany had an RBI single in the fourth to help FHSU extend its lead to 5-2.
 
Pitchers
Bailey Carlson – Fort Hays State
Bailey Carlson picked up complete-game wins in both of her starts this past week, helping Fort Hays State to a 3-1 week of non-conference action in Colorado. The sophomore pitcher had two strikeouts in each of her starts, allowing just one run to MSU Denver and two to CSU Pueblo. Carlson fielded her position well against CSU Pueblo, totaling seven assists in the 5-2 win. Of the live balls her batters faced put in play for outs, 72.0 percent were ground outs.
 
ALSO NOMINATED
Hitters: Gabby Schultz (Pittsburg State), Allison Zanca (Northeastern State)
Pitchers: Hannah Harrison (Pittsburg State), Jordyn Pipkin (Central Oklahoma)