LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Anderson’s Lauren Brakovec and Francis Marion’s Jenna Walling were named Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player and Wilson/NFCA Pitcher of the Week for contests played March 23-29. It marked the second honor this season for Walling.
Brakovec started the week with three perfect games at the plate and finished batting .714 with two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and nine runs scored. She also drew four walks, posted a .760 on-base percentage and slugged 1.238. Brakovec notched a career-best four hits with three runs scored and six RBI in a win over Lincoln Memorial.
Walling posted a 4-0 record with a 0.23 ERA and a save in six appearances last week for the 13th-ranked Patriots. The graduate hurler struck out 25 batters and surrendered four walks over 30 innings. Walling twirled four complete games, allowing just one earned run, which snapped a streak of 37 innings without allowing an earned run. She fanned 10 in an eight-inning outing against Barton and came in and recorded the final out in game two versus the Bulldogs to earn the save.
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 Nominated Performances
Jill Albayati, Cal State San Marcos - .714, 5 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .722 OBP, 1.500 SLG; Halle Bucktrot, Rogers State - .400, 3 2B, 6 RBI, .700 SLG; Macey Clark, St. Cloud State – 2-0, 1.02 ERA, 0.73 WHIP, 16 K, 5 BB, 13.2 IP, .111 opp. BA; Georgia Clough, Franklin Pierce – 3-0, 1.75 ERA, SHO, CG, 16 K, 12 IP, .146 opp. BA; Sarah Davenport, East Stroudsburg – 2-0, 21 K, .098 opp. BA, 12.2 IP, SHO, 2 CG; Emily Davis, Missouri Southern – 2-0, SV, 1.17 ERA, 11 K, 4 BB, 12 IP; Eleanor De Block, West Alabama – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, 2BB, 6 H, 0 R, 0.67 WHIP, 2 SHO, 12 IP; Bailey Dillon, Missouri Southern - .615, .688 OBP, 5 R, 8 H, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 HBP, 2 SB; Lillianna Garcia, Biola - .643, 4 2B, HR, 9 H, 11 RBI, 1.143 SLG; Kinsley Hill, Rogers State – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 K, 4 BB, 12 IP, SHO; Sami Huck, McKendree – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 H, 14 K, 3 BB, 2 CG, 12 IP; Macy Irelan, Saginaw Valley State – 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, 4 H, 8 K, .089 opp. BA; Maisie Lerette, Franklin Pierce - .500, 6 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 10 R, 2 BB, .550 OBP, 1.167 SLG; Sydney Long, Wayne State University – 2-0, 0.74 ERA, 22 K, 4 BB, 19 IP, .098 opp. BA, 6 H; Emma Niemczyk, Drury - .412, 7 H, 5 R, 3 RBI, 4 2B, HR, BB; La’Taviona Park, West Alabama – 1.000, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 2 R, 1.000 OBP, 3.000 SLG; DJ Symons, Biola – 3-0, 1.38 ERA, SV, 13 K, 0 BB, 20.1 IP; Hannah Taylor, Eckerd - .714, 3 R, 3 2B, grand slam, 10 RBI, 5 BB (2 IBB), SB, .833 OBP, 1.571 SLG, school-record 8 RBI vs. Barry; Alanna Wirtala, Western Washington – 3-0, 2.39 ERA, SV, 16 K, CG, .180 opp. BA.
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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