LOUISVILLE, Ky. – West Florida’s Emma Brice, Georgia Southwestern’s Zoe Willis and Converse’s Riley Lingerfelt were recognized for their outstanding performances last week. Brice and Willis were named Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Co-Players of the Week with Lingerfelt taking home Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week honors.
Over a six-game stretch last week, Brice hit .500 (12-for-24) with three doubles, five home runs, 10 RBI and 11 runs scored. She matched a career high with four RBI in a win over Columbus State in which Brice was 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, a homer and two runs scored. The sophomore from Tallahassee, Fla. recorded a hit and scored a run in each contest, racking up five multi-hit performances and scored multiple times on four occasions. Brice drove in three runs, scored twice and homered in a win over Georgia Southwestern. She also launched three round trippers in a doubleheader split at Valdosta State.
Willis had a big week at the plate as well, going 5-for-8 (.625) with four of those leaving the yard and slugging 2.250. She registered a double, drove in 11 runs and drew six walks, contributing to a .786 on-base percentage and a 3.036 OPS. Two of her home runs came against Point, including a grand slam. The Pine Mountain, Ga. native also homered against Newberry and West Florida. In the field, she did not record an error in six chances at second base.
Highlighted by the program’s first perfect game and no-hitter, Lingerfelt went the distance in her two starts, recording 30 strikeouts and holding her opponents to a .136 average over 13 innings of work. The perfect game came against Shaw in which she retired all 15 batters, 13 via strikeout, a new school record. Prior to that, she fanned 11 in a shutout victory over St. Andrews. In game Converse's contest against Lincoln, she recorded a three-inning save with six punchouts.
The above 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
2B, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1.857 SLG; Ally Distler, Colorado Mesa - 4GP/4GS, .500 avg., 1 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 1.083 SLG, 1.555 OPS; Maci Head, Tiffin - .500, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 6 RBI, BB; Heaven Maness, Wingate - 4 GP/4GS .538 average (7-for-13), .571 OBP, 1.231 SLG, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 R; Delaney Morgan, Embry-Riddle - 3GP/3GS, .571 avg., 3 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1.286 SLG, 2 BB; Briana Neal, Saint Leo - 3 GP/3 GS, .545 avg., 6 H, 2 2B, HR, BB, 5 RBI, 6 R, 1.000 SLG, 4-for-4 SB; Emily O’Connor, UIndy - 3 GP/3 GS, .750 avg., 2 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 1.375 SLG; Brittni Rufus, West Texas A&M - 3GP/GS, .500 avg, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, .600 SLG, .545 OBP; Alexis Steven, Ohio Dominican - 4 GP/4 GS, 5-12, .417 avg., 4 2B, 5 RBIs, 1 BB, 1-1 SB, .750 SLG, .462 OBP; Tinsley Thompson, King - .550, 11 H, 2 2B, 3B, 11 RBI; Sydney Watson, Converse - .538 avg, 1.153 SLG, .571 OBP, 7 H, 10 RBI, 6 R, 2 HR, 2 2B; Preslee Christensen, Colorado Mesa - 2 app/1 GS, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12 K, 4H, 6 BB, 8 IP; Cheyenne Floyd, Angelo State - 2 APP, 2 GS, two combined shutouts, 0.00 ERA, 10 IP, 9 HA, 1 BB, 8 Ks, .250 opp. avg.; Marilee Jacobs, Ohio Dominican - 2 App/2 GS, 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 11 SO, 14.0 IP, 4 BB; Jules King, Tiffin – 2-0, 1.00 ERA, SV, 17 K, 14 IP; Morgan Shannon, Saint Leo – 2-0, 1.56 ERA, 3 H, 7 K, 9 IP; Heidi Vortherms, West Texas A&M – 2-0, 2 CG, 17 K vs. No. 6 UT Tyler.
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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NFCA Division II Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week
