LOUISVILLE, Ky. –Valdosta State’s Nicole Pennington and Columbus State’s Hannah Rose Corbin were named Louisville Slugger / NFCA Player of the Week and Wilson / NFCA Pitcher of the Week, respectively. They were recognized for their outstanding performances in contests played during the week of March 22-28.
Pennington powered the fourth-ranked Blazers to a three-game sweep of then-No. 17 West Florida last weekend. The Palm Bay, Fla. native was three-for-six at the plate with all three hits leaving the yard (one each game). She drove in four, scored five times and slugged 2.000. Additionally, she drew five free passes which attributed to her .727 on-base percentage. Pennington’s solo shot in game one broke a 2-2 deadlock. In game two, her two-run round tripper ignited a five-run seventh-inning rally (cut the deficit to 4-3) that led to a 6-4 walk-off victory. The junior shortstop was flawless defensively as well, not committing an error in nine chances.
Corbin, who earned Player of the Week honors on March 3, was dominant in the circle for Columbus State last week. The sophomore hurler was 3-0 with a 0.74 ERA, one save and 40 strikeouts in 19 innings of work. Corbin matched a program record with a 19-strikeout performance versus West Georgia, the highest strikeout total amongst DII pitchers this season. In game two of the doubleheader, she slammed the door shut with two innings of no-hit shutout relief (five strikeouts) to earn the save. The Clanton, Ala. native fanned 10 in a complete-game victory over Flagler and also earned a win in relief with three scoreless innings (two hits, six strikeouts).
Selected Top Performances
Kali Crandall, Oklahoma Christian – 4-0, SV, 0.86 ERA, 25 K, 6 BB, 21.1 IP; Whitney Wendel, Lindenwood - .615, 4 2B, 6 RBI, 4 R, SB; Darrian Smith, TAMIU - .571, 2B, 3 RHR, 7 RBI, 6 R; Madison Schaefer, Texas A&M-Commerce - .600, 3 HR, 7 R, 5 RBI, 8 BB, 5-5 SB, 1.500 SLG, .778 OBP; Briana Arredondo, TAMIU - .600 (9-for-15), 2 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBI; Molly Cobb, Auburn Montgomery - .875 (7-for-8), 6 XBH, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R; Morgan Perry, Saint Anselm – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 15 K, 4 BB; Reilly Tidwell, Western Oregon – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 K, 10 IP, no-hitter versus Northwest Nazarene; Paige Adair, Colorado Mesa – 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 H, 12 K, BB, 7 IP; Bethany Hines, Cameron – 2-0, 0.54 ERA, 9 K, BB, .170 opp. BA, 13 IP; Amanda Weyh, Lindenwood – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 10 K, BB, 14 IP; Samantha Richard, Valdosta State – 2-0 vs. No. 17 West Florida, 1.50 ERA, 13 K, 0 BB, .208 opp. BA; Brianna Robinson, Oklahoma Christian - .500, 6 H, 2B, HR, 7 RBI, .647 OBP.
