LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Montevallo’s Becca Benton and Francis Marion’s Jenna Walling earned Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors for contests played Feb. 9-15.
Benton powered the Falcons’ offense to six wins last week, batting .647 with a double, six home runs and 16 RBI. The senior from Hayden, Ala. also scored eight runs and slugged 1.765. Benton homered twice in wins over Miles and Converse, driving in five and four runs, respectively. She registered at least one hit in all six games, collecting a season-best three with three runs scored versus Converse. Her efforts keyed Montevallo to its first national ranking this week at No. 25.
Making four appearances and three starts, Walling posted a 4-0 record with a 0.32 ERA and 17 strikeouts for the No. 6 Patriots. She scattered 12 hits (.158 opp. BA), allowed just one earned run and did not issue a free pass over 21.2 innings of work. The graduate hurler twirled a two-hit shutout at Coker, fanning nine Cobras. She also went the distance in wins over Ferris State and Tusculum, striking out four in each outing. Walling also helped herself out at the plate, launching two home runs, including the walk-off two-run homer versus the Bulldogs, giving her the win in relief.
The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which features two member coaches from each of the NCAA’s eight regions.
Selected Top Performances
Jill Albayati, Cal State San Marcos - .500, 6 H, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB, 1.000 SLG; Sydney Cline, Saint Leo - .429, 2B, HR, 3 R, 4 RBI, SB; Christina D’Agostino, Nova Southeastern - .500, 3B, HR (grand slam), BB, 4 RBI, R; Natalee Gray, Lubbock Christian – 1-0, 0.54 ERA, 11 K, BB, 13 IP, H, perfect game vs. Vanguard; Taylor Lloyd, Montevallo – 3-0, 0.39 ERA, 21 K, BB, 18 IP; Sydney Long, Wayne State University – 1-0, 0.000 ERA, 5 K, BB, 3 H; Raylin Morgan, Rogers State - .462, 2 2b, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1.077 SLG; Briana Neal, Saint Leo - .429, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 5 R, 3-3 SB; Hunter Near, Wayne State University - .625, 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 1.125 SLG, .667 OBP; Kiki Pickens, Missouri Southern – 2-0, 2.40 ERA, 22 K, 11.2 IP, SHO vs. No. 11 Southern Arkansas; Gianna Saggese, Missouri Southern - .571, 2B, HR, 8 RBI, .667 OBP; Zoey Sifuentes, Angelo State - .563, 9 H, 4 R, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .588 OBP, 1.000 SLG; Tori Turner, Harding - .611, 11 H, 2 RBI; Gracelyn Wallace, Nova Southeastern – 1-0, 1.00 ERA, 6 K; Greenlee Wells, Oklahoma Baptist - .538, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1.615 SLG; Madalyn White, Francis Marion - .591, 3 2B, 3B, 9 R, 2 RBI, .609 OBP, 2 SB; Alex Wright, Saint Leo – 2-0, 0.66 ERA, 10 K, 2 BB, 10.2 IP, CG.
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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