LOUISVILLE, Ky. – West Texas A&M’s Shea Ibrahim and University of Central Oklahoma’s Jayden Chestnut garneredLouisville Slugger / NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games played April 3-9.
Ibrahim hit .692 (9-for-13) with three homers and nine RBI, keying the six-ranked Lady Buffs’ to a three-game Lone Star Conference sweep of Texas A&M Commerce. The senior from South Jordan, Utah also roped two doubles, scored six runs, slugged 1.538, recorded a .714 on-base percentage and did not strike out. Ibrahim played a flawless third base, registering eight assists without an error. She knocked in three runs in each contest and clinched the series sweep with a walk-off two-run home run for an 8-7 comeback win over the Lions.
Chestnut, nearly unhittable in three starts, capped off the week with a six-inning perfect game after twirling a pair of one-hit shutouts. Holding her opponents to a mere .033 batting average, the sophomore righty went 3-0, did not allow a run on two hits with 20 strikeouts in 20 innings of work. She fanned a week-best eight batters in her perfecto against Central Missouri. Chestnut, a Mustang, Okla. native, started the week with a one-hit outing versus Cameron, striking out five in a 5-0 victory and followed that performance with seven strikeouts and facing just one batter over the minimum (one walk) in a 2-0 shutout of Southwest Baptist.
Player of the Week
April 12 – Shea Ibrahim (West Texas A&M)
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 12 – Jayden Chestnut (University of Central Oklahoma)
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
Taylor Brandts, UVa Wise (MEC Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 3 SHO, 32 K, 3 BB, 9 H, .132 opp. BA; Dominique Seva’aetasi, Academy of Art (PacWest Player of the Week)- .889 (8-for-9), 2 2B, 2 3B, 7 RBI, 7 R, 2 SB, 1.556 SLG, .900 OBP; Angelique Elemen, Fort Lewis (RMAC Player of the Week)- .917 (11-for-12), 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 5 BB, .941 OBP; Morgan Lloyd, Mercy (ECC Player of the Week)- .650, 13 H, 3 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 3 BB, .667 OBP, 1.100 SLG; Sydney Ponto, Caldwell (CACC Player of the Week)- 5-0, 2 SV, 1.25 ERA, 43 K, 28 IP, .194 opp. BA; Kayle Garner, Southern Arkansas (GAC Co-Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 2 SHO, 0.00 ERA, 0 R, 14 K, 2 BB, 7 H, 15 IP, .140 opp. BA; Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State (GLIAC Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO, 7 H, 18 K, 3 BB, 15 IP; Makenzie Pennell, Pfeiffer (Conference Carolinas Player of the Week)- .600 (3-for-5), 3 HR, 5 RBI, BB .667 OBP; Brandy Marlett, Angelo State (Lone Star Pitcher of the Week)- – 3-0, 0.37 ERA, 2 SHO, 30 K, 1 R, 6 H, 19 IP, .094 opp. BA; Coley Ries, Minnesota State (Northern Sun Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 0.94 ERA, 34 K, .177 opp. BA; Christa Reisinger, Truman State (GLVC Player of the Week)- .650 (13-for-20), 3 2B, 9 R, 4 RBI; Becca Taylor, West Florida (Gulf South Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 0.39 ERA, 16 K, 18 IP, .069 opp. BA; Danielle Barbato, Saint Michael’s College (NE 10 Player of the Week)- .538 (7-for-13), 2B, 3 HR, 5 RBI; Haley Gilham, Chico State (CCAA Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 2 SHO, 10 K, 14 IP; Stefanie Ray, Bowie State (CIAA Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 2 SHO, 26 K, BB, 10 IP, perfect game vs. Lincoln (Pa.) (13 K, 5 IP); Inaya Jones, Bowie State (CIAA Pitcher of the Week)- .857 (6-for-7), 2B, 3B, HR, 10 RBI, 4 R, 1.714 SLG, .889 OBP; Hannah Rose Balke, Academy of Art (PacWest Pitcher of the Week)- 4-0, 0.98 ERA, SHO, 20 K, .179 opp. BA, 21.1 IP; Dayna Denner, Ashland (GLIAC Player of the Week)- .522, 2 2B, 2 HR, 8 R, 3 RBI, 3 SB, 1.000 FLD (16 chances); Autumn Humes, Harding (GAC Co-Pitcher of the Week)- 4-0, 0.31 ERA, 2 SHO, 1 R, 8 H, 35 K, 6 BB, 22.1 IP; Jennifer Leonhardt, Southern Indiana (GLVC Pitcher of the Week)- 4-0, 1.09 ERA, 2 SHO, 25 K, 25.2 IP; Sarah Kennedy, Augustana (Northern Sun Player of the Week)- .571, 12 H, 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, 1.143 SLG; Tiaria Norman, Claflin- 2-0, 0.77 ERA, 18 K, 3 BB.