[2023 MIAA Softball Athletes of the Week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its Softball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the seventh week of the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Hitter of the Week – Abby DeSanto – Missouri Southern
Abby DeSanto helped Missouri Southern to MIAA sweeps of Northeastern State and No. 2-ranked Rogers State. DeSanto had an historic game at the plate in the Lions' 15-9 win over NSU in game two to claim the league sweep over the RiverHawks. In the final game of the double-header, she went 3-for-3 with three home runs, four runs scored and seven RBI to tie the program record for home runs in a game and tied for the second most RBI in a game. The sophomore third baseman was just a grand slam short of completing the home run cycle with a two-run shot in the second inning, a solo in the fifth and a three-run homer in the fifth. On the week, DeSanto hit .333 with a 1.083 slugging percentage and eight RBI.
 
MIAA Pitcher of the Week – Jaycee Ginter – Washburn
Jaycee Ginter went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four appearances last week. Ginter collected two combined shutouts and a complete game, striking out 26 batters while allowing just two walks in 17.0 innings pitched. The junior pitcher held her opponents.140 batting average. Ginter tossed five innings in the opener against Lincoln, facing the minimum in five innings while striking out 10 Blue Tigers. She came into the second game in relief, tossing 2.0 innings, striking out five and allowed three hits. In the opener against Central Missouri, Ginter tossed seven innings with six strikeouts and allowed just three hits, holding the Jennies scoreless through 6 2/3 innings before the Jennies scored an unearned run. In the second game, she tossed three innings in relief striking out five with one walk.
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Hitters
Sydni Hawkins – Missouri Western
Sydni Hawkins led the Griffons at the plate last week, hitting .586 (17-for-29) with 10 runs scored, seven RBI, five doubles and one home run. The senior second baseman’s standout day came in game one in a MIAA doubleheader against Newman. Hawkins went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBI, smashing a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to kickstart an 11-1 victory over the Jets.
 
Abbey Ward – Emporia State
On the week, Abbey Ward hit .529 with an OPS of 1.344 as the Hornets went 4-2 last week. The senior shortstop was even better in MIAA action with a .545 batting average and 1.433 OPS. Ward started the week going 2-for-3 with a run scored in Emporia State’s 9-1 run rule win in game one against Drury. She was 1-for-3 with an RBI double that proved to be the game winning run in the Hornets’ 5-4 win over the Panthers in the nightcap. Ward went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases in ESU’s 5-4 loss to UCM. She then went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in the 4-1 loss in the second game. In the Hornets’ final doubleheader of the week, Ward was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base in the 8-0 win over Lincoln in game one before going 2-fo-2 with a triple, two runs and two RBI in the 9-1 win in game two. Ward also totaled six stolen bases on the week to move her into a tie for the MIAA lead with teammate Lexi Williams.
 
Pitchers
Hannah Harrison – Pittsburg State
Hannah Harrison posted a 2-0 record with one save and a 0.00 ERA in three appearances on the week, highlighted by a four-hit shutout in Pittsburg State’s 1-0 win over No. 2-ranked Rogers State. The Moore, Okla., native limited the Hillcats to four hits and issued no walks while fanning 10 batters. She also registered the final six outs to pick up a save in the Gorillas’ 4-3 win over RSU. Harrison also picked up a six-hit shutout in Pitt State’s 7-0 win over Northeastern State to close the weekend.
 
Bailey Lacy – Missouri Southern
Bailey Lacy was a constant force in the circle for the Lions last week, picking up three wins in four appearances and closing out every game in sweeps over Northeastern State and No. 2-ranked Rogers State. For the week. Lacy went 3-0 with a 0.55 ERA in 16.1 innings from four appearances. The senior recorded one complete game shutout start, walking only three and striking out 14 has opponents hit .193 against her. In game one against the RiverHawks, Lacy picked up the win with 3 2/3 innings of relief striking out three. In game two, picked up the win with 3 2/3 innings of relief while striking out four. Against No. 2 RSU, Lacy pitched the final two innings of the first game against the Hillcats, allowing no hits or runs with three strikeouts. To end the week, Lacy pitched a complete game shutout with four strikeouts to claim the weekend sweep over the Hillcats. Following her performances, she now has had six straight games of having at least three strikeouts. She also moved into the third in career strikeouts at MSSU in the process with 254 following this past weekend.
 
ALSO NOMINATED
Hitters: Shayla Harper (Central Oklahoma), Paxtyn Hayes (Pittsburg State), Regan Curry (Fort Hays State), Hadley Kerschen (Washburn)

Pitchers: Josie Harrison (Emporia State), Jadyn Streigle (Northwest Missouri), Paige Petefish (Central Missouri), Savanah Egger (Fort Hays State)