[2023 MIAA Softball Athletes of the Week: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11]

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its Softball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week for the 12th week of the 2023 season.
 
MIAA Hitter of the Week – Bridgett Morales – Rogers State
Bridgett Morales led the Hillcats to a 5-1 week with wins over Missouri S&T on the road, and Emporia State and Washburn at home. The sophomore first baseman hit .429 (9-for-21) and drove in a total of nine runs. She also had three runs scored and two home runs. In the 9-0 run rule win against the Miners, Morales went 3-for-4 with three RBI, including a two-run homer. She also drove in three more runs in the second game against S&T. Morales also walked off the Hornets in the 5-3 win with a two-run shot in the eighth inning.
 
MIAA Pitcher of the Week – Sara Llamas-Howell – Rogers State   
Sara Llamas-Howell went 3-0 in the circle last week posting 0.33 ERA over 21 innings with only one earned run and eight strikeouts. The junior threw two shutouts, including the 9-0 run rule at Missouri S&T and went the distance in the 6-0 win over Washburn to end her week. This is Llamas-Howell's fourth MIAA Pitcher of the Week honor this season. 
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Hitters
Terin Ritz – Central Oklahoma
Terin Ritz had a big day at the plate in helping lead UCO to a 6-0 week, including 4-0 against league foes. The sophomore pitcher/designated player hit .500 with nine hits in 18 at bats while also scoring six runs. Ritz had one double, one triple, one homer and four RBI, finishing with an .833 slugging percentage.
 
Savannah Evans – Northeastern State
Savannah Evans had multi-hit games in all four of Northeastern State’s contests this last weekend. The junior hit two home runs, one of which was a walk-off bomb in the eighth inning against Washburn. She moved her batting average up to .414 on the year and also earned a win in the circle against Newman.
 
Pitchers
Jordyn Pipkin – Central Oklahoma
Jordyn Pipkin had another dominating week in the circle as Central Oklahoma went 6-0 last week, including 4-0 against MIAA teams. The sophomore right-hander went 3-0 with an 0.95 ERA, throwing three complete games with one shutout. She allowed 12 hits and four runs (three earned) in 22 innings while walking just three and striking out 14. Opponents batted a mere .158 against Pipkin, who threw a two-hitter in 5-0 win over Nebraska-Kearney.
 
Morgan Schmidt – Fort Hays State
Morgan Schmidt threw her second no-hitter of the season in a 3-0 win at Newman, helping the Tigers to a MIAA doubleheader sweep. All that kept her from a perfect game was hitting the first batter of the game. After that she retired 21 straight batters with five strikeouts, five groundouts, and 11 flyouts. Schmidt became just the second FHSU pitcher in program history to throw more than one no-hitter in a career, joining FHSU Hall of Famer Maddie Holub who threw seven in her career. She had her first no-hitter of the season at Southwestern Oklahoma State on March 28. Schmidt went 4.2 innings in her start at Central Oklahoma, allowing just two earned runs.
 
ALSO NOMINATED
Hitters: Bailey Flewelling (Emporia State), Katie Gosker (Nebraska Kearney), Madison Pierce (Fort Hays State), Ashlynn Williams (Missouri Southern)  
Pitchers: Gracie Rabe (Emporia State), Kara Amos (Missouri Southern), Madison Heinle (Northeastern State)