LOUISVILLE, Ky. –  University of New Haven sophomore Taylor Luzzi garneredLouisville Slugger / NFCA Division II National Player of the Week honors, while seniors Bridgette Sappington of Rockhurst and Jessica Yost of Bemidji State tossed perfect games to share national Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively. Each student-athlete earned their first national honor for games played March 27 through April 2.

Luzzi hit .545 (12-for-22) with three doubles, two homers, 11 RBI and nine runs keying the Chargers to a 5-1 week, which included a doubleheader sweep of then-No. 23 Adelphi and a split at new-No. 25 Caldwell. Extending her hitting streak to 14 games, Luzzi recorded a hit in all six games and also swiped three bags. She launched a grand slam and knocked in seven runs during a twibill split at Caldwell. Earlier in the week, the Fishkill, N.Y. native scored three times and went 4-for-7 in a doubleheader sweep of the Panthers.

Sappington was nearly perfect for the week, not allowing a run or a hit, while fanning 12 over 12 innings of work. She twirled the first perfect game in program history against Maryville on April 1. The Peculiar, Mo. native struck out seven in the 3-0 over the Saints. Sappington, who was 3-0 on the week, also earned a pair of wins in relief. Named Great Lake Valley Pitcher of the Week, she tossed a perfect eighth inning in game one against Maryville in a 5-4 walk-off victory and provided four innings of no-hit relief (6 K, 3 BB), helping the Hawks knock off Missouri St. Louis, 6-2.

Highlighted by a perfect game, Yost was 5-0 in the circle for the Beavers last week. The right-handed hurler posted a 0.29 ERA with three shutouts, 44 strikeouts to just one walk over 24 innings. Yost, a hometown product, opened the week with a 12-strikeout (5 inn.) perfecto in game one against Minnesota Crookston and then struck out eight more Golden Eagles over four innings in game two. Yost posted two more five-inning shutouts against Minnesota State University, Moorehead (5 H, 7 K, 0 BB) and Northern State (4 H, 7 K, 0 BB). Those performances were sandwiched around a five-inning complete game against Northern State in which she allowed an unearned run, struck out 10 and did not walk a batter. For the week, the Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week held her opponents to a .123 batting average.

Player of the Week
April 5 – Taylor Luzzi (University of New Haven)
March 29 – Mariah Jameyson (Texas A&M University-Commerce)
March 22 – Natalie Lalich (Indianapolis)
March 15 – Kailey Green (Missouri Western)
March 8 – Lyndsay Butler (Wayne State University)
March 1 – Ashley Hardin (West Texas A&M)
Feb. 22 – Erika Lutgen (Missouri Southern)
Feb. 15 – Abbey Walters (UNC Pembroke)
Feb. 8 – Tiffany Hollingsworth (Humboldt State)

Pitcher of the Week
April 5 – Bridgette Sappington (Rockhurst) & Jessica Yost (Bemidji State)
March 29 – Amanda Houck (West Chester University)
March 22 – Michelle Sorensen (Henderson State)
March 15 – Brandy Marlett (Angelo State)
March 8 – Anna Kasner (Western Washington)
March 1 – Kylee Smith (North Georgia)
Feb. 22 – Ally Marcano (Flagler)
Feb. 15 – Rachel Pence (Florida Tech)
Feb. 8 – Anna Kasner (Western Washington)

Selected Top Performances
Dana Edmundson, Nova Southeastern– 5-for-8, 4 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 2.125 SLG, led off each game of series with a home run; Jalissa Gum, Arkansas Tech (GAC Pitcher of the Week)- 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO, 37 K, 4 BB, 3 H, .058 opp. BA; Haley Acrey, Northeastern State– .636, 5 2B, HR, 13 RBI, 1.364 SLG; Julia Garcia, Cal State Monterey Bay– .579, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 5 R, Tournament of Champions MVP; Kalyn Tilton, Minnesota Duluth (Northern Sun Player of the Week)- .500, 9 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 12 RBI; Haley Gilham, Chico State (CCAA Player of the Week)- 4 W, save, 0.77 ERA, 21 K, 27 IP; 2B, HR, 11 RBI; Ashleigh Tramel, Central Oklahoma (MIAA Hitter of the Week)- .571, 3 2B, 3B, HR, 1.143 SLG, 8 RBI, .556 OBP; Hayley Freyman, Tarleton State (Lone Star Pitcher of the Week)- 3-1, 2 SHO of No. 1 Angelo State, 15 K; Taylor Blackford, Northwest Missouri (MIAA Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 2 SHO, 0.00 ERA, 6 K, 6 H; Victoria Schoonard-Saborio, Texas A&M University-Kingsville (Lone Star Player of the Week)- .900, 9 H, 7 R, 1.600 SLG, 3 2B, 3B, 5 RBI; Mallory Tomaschik, Bloomsburg (PSAC Central Pitcher of the Week)- 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO, 19 K, 1 BB, .053 opp. BA; Caroline Hill, Limestone (Conference Carolinas Player of the Week)- .533, 8 H, 5 2B, HR, 8 RBI; Josie Weber, Limestone (Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 0.41 ERA, 10 K; Olivia Gumbita, Gannon (PSAC Western Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 K; Leanne Wright, Lynn (SSC Player of the Week)- .600, 12 H, 4 multi-hit games, 6 RBI, 4 R; Brenda Iparraguirre, St. Mary’s (Heartland Player of the Week)- .438, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 1.125 SLG; Emilee Baker, West Texas A&M– .667, 6 H, 4 HR, 8 RBI, 2.000 SLG; Alison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State (GLIAC Pitcher of the Week)- 2-1, 0.70 ERA, 3 R, 2 ER, 20 K, 5 BB, .162 opp. BA; Jenna Lenza, Grand Valley State (GLIAC Player of the Week)- .579, 11 H, .600 OBP, 2B, 5 RBI.