LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mississippi State Madisyn Kennedy and Oklahoma’s Kelly Maxwell were named 2024 Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. The duo is being recognized for their outstanding performances for contests played March 11-17.
Over four games, Kennedy hit .545 with four home runs, 13 RBI and a 1.636 slugging percentage, while extending her reached base streak to 14 games. She drove in a career-high seven runs, matching a program record, and homered twice in a victory over Louisiana Monroe. Kennedy also left the yard and registered three RBI in two games over then-No. 13 Texas A&M. Her long ball in game one off of Emiley Kennedy was the first surrendered by the Aggie hurler in 2024.
Maxwell twirled her fifth career no-hitter, first with Oklahoma, on March 12 against Tarleton State. She fanned a season-high 10 in the five-inning no-no. The graduate southpaw went six scoreless innings in a win at Texas Tech. She finished the week 2-0 with 17 punchouts and four walks over 11 innings of work. Maxwell surrendered just two hits and held her opposition to a .056 batting average.
The Division I Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week are voted on by the NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll Committee.
Selected Top Performances
Allison Boaz, Boston University - 5 GP/4 GS, .600 avg., 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1.100 SLG; 5 App/2 GS, 3-1, 1.17 ERA, 9 SO, 11 BB, 24.0 IP; Bri Ellis, Missouri - 3 GP/3 GS, .714 AVG, .800 OBP, 1.571 SLG, 5 H, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R, 11 TB, 3 BB; Megan Gibbs, Utah Valley - 8-for-14 (.571), 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, 6 runs, 2 walks. Grand slam in win over Tarleton State; Kayden Henry, Texas - 4 GP/4 GS, .600 AVG., 3 2B, 12 TB, 9 H, 8 R, 4 SB, 4 RBI, .600/.600/.800; Tiara Jennings, Oklahoma - 5 GP/5 GS, .538 avg., 3 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .632 OBP, 1.462 SLG, 2.094 OPS; Makenna Kliethermes, Ole Miss - 2 App/2 GS, 2-0, 0.53 ERA, 14 SO, 5 BB, 13.1 IP; Regan Krause, Stanford - 3 App/2 GS, 16.1 IP, 3-0, 1.29 ERA, 17 SO, 1 BB; Jalia Lassiter, Ole Miss - 4 GP/4 GS, .462 avg., 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, .846 SLG, .533 OB, 1-1 SB; Katie Love, Liberty - 3 APP/1 GS, 1 CG, no-hitter vs. Jacksonville State, 0.50 ERA, 12 K, 4 BB, 14 IP, .068 opp BA; Maddie Moore, Clemson - 4 GP/4 GS, .625 avg., 5 hits, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 runs, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 1 SB, 1.375 SLG, .750 OBP; Mac Morgan, Texas - 3 APP, 1 GS, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 5 SO, 1 BB, 9.2 IP, 1 CG, 1 SO, 1 H, .033 B/AVG, retired 29 of 31 batters faced; Sharize Palacios, UCLA - 3 GP/3GS, 1.000 avg., 1 2B, 1 HR (grand slam), 7 RBI, 1.800 SLG; Haley Rainey, Cal State Fullerton - 2 App/2 GS, 2-0, 0.75 ERA, 10 SO, 4 BB, 12 IP; Cali Spelhaug, Iowa State - 4 GP/4 GS, .500 avg., 3 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1.250 SLG; Regan Spencer, Clemson - 3 App/2 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 SO, 0 BB, 10 IP.
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its highly-regarded Louisville Slugger/Player & Wilson/Pitcher of the Week awards, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from webinars to legal counsel, to in-person events and the National Convention.
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