LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Saint Anselm’s Morgan Perry and Colorado Mesa’s Ellie Smith were named Wilson / NFCA Pitcher and Louisville Slugger / NFCA Player of the Week, respectively. They were recognized for their outstanding performances in contests played during the week of April 19-26.
Perry continued to shine in 2021, twirling consecutive no-hitters against Saint Michael’s, the second a perfect game on April 25. For the week, the senior hurler was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 34 strikeouts over 15 innings of work. She recorded two shutouts, allowed one hit and did not issue a walk. In the program’s first-ever perfect game, she fanned 10 in the five-inning win. Twenty-four hours earlier, Perry, who now has four career no-hitters, sat down a season-high 18 batters and has 150 this season. The three-time 2021 NE-10 Pitcher of the Week and Bethany, Conn. native has struck out 10-plus in 10 of her 12 starts.
Smith had a monster weekend in a key four-game Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) sweep of Colorado Christian. She hit .600 (9-for-15) with two doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI. Smith also scored four runs and slugged 1.533. She recorded a pair of three-hit, four RBI outings in games one and four. The sophomore from Riverside, Calif. cracked two long balls, registered a double and scored twice in the opener, while adding another long ball and two-bagger in the series finale. Smith also left the yard and posted two RBI in game three. Additionally, the RMAC Player of the Week picked up two wins in the circle, one in a start and one in relief. She did not allow a run in 7.1 innings, scattered five hits and struck out three.
Selected Top Performances
Madison Johnson, West Texas A&M - .667, 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 2.111 SLG, .727 OBP; Nicole Shano, Harding - .533, 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 1.000 SLG; Cheyenne Shughart, Edinboro - .500, 13 H, 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI; Nicole Spiegelberg, Felician - .583, 3 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 5 R, 1.333 SLG, .688 OBP; Kali Crandall, Oklahoma Christian – 2-0, 0.80 ERA, 14 K, 5 H, 1 ER, 10 IP vs. No. 6 Texas A&M-Commerce; Samantha Richards, Valdosta State – 2-0, SHO, SV, 18 K, 4 BB, 11 IP, .175 opp. BA; Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum - .545, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 1.182 SLG leading team to first-ever SAC Tournament title; Nicole Pennington, Valdosta State - .417, 5 H, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 6 R, 2 BB, .500 OBP, 1.250 SLG; Chrissie Huhn, Molloy - .688, 11 H, 2B, 3B, 2 SB; Emily Sappington, Tusculum – 3-0, 2.00 ERA, 23 K, 2 BB, 21 IP, SAC Tournament MVP, shut out No. 7 Lincoln Memorial in title game; Hannah Rose Corbin, Columbus State – 4-0, 0.00 ERA, 34 K, 9 BB, 3 SHO, .105 opp. BA, 27 IP / .417, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 1.167 SLG.
