LOUISVILLE, Ky. – West Texas A&M slugger Ashley Hardin and North Georgia rookie Kylee Smith took home this week’s Louisville Slugger / NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, respectively, for games played Feb. 20-26, announced the Association on Wednesday afternoon.
Hardin, a Flower Mound, Texas native, hit .636 (7-for-11) with three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI and eight runs, helping the sixth-ranked Lady Buffs (17-2) sweep their Lone Star Conference series at Texas Woman’s. Slugging 1.455 for the weekend, the junior centerfielder launched both her home runs, a pair of three-run shots, drove in six and scored four times in game two against the Pioneers. Selected the LSC Player of the Week, Hardin is off to a hot start this season with a team-leading 28 runs and 10 doubles, to go along with a .435 average, six homers and 28 RBI.
Smith. a freshman right hander from Suwanee, Ga., went 3-0 with a save on the week. She posted a 0.95 ERA and highlighted her week with a two-hit shutout of Spring Hill, which was held scoreless for the first time this season. Smith capped off her week with a five-hit complete-game win over No. 8 Saint Leo, surrendering just an earned run. Additionally, she closed the door in a victory over Eckerd on Saturday to earn her first collegiate save. For the week, Smith struck out 20 and held her opponents to a .167 batting average. The Peach Belt Pitcher of the Week is 11-1 on the year with a 0.92 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 76.1 innings of work.
Player of the Week
March 1 – Ashley Hardin (West Texas A&M)
Feb. 22 – Erika Lutgen (Missouri Southern)
Feb. 15 – Abbey Walters (UNC Pembroke)
Feb. 8 – Tiffany Hollingsworth (Humboldt State)
Pitcher of the Week
March 1 – Kylee Smith (North Georgia)
Feb. 22 – Ally Marcano (Flagler)
Feb. 15 – Rachel Pence (Florida Tech)
Feb. 8 – Anna Kasner (Western Washington)
Selected Top Performances
Emma Hughes, King (Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 3 R, 0 ER, 14 K, .143 opp. BA; Madison Williams, Humboldt State (CCAA Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, SV, 0.00 ERA, 23 K, 1 BB, .177 opp. BA; Brenna Martini, Adelphi (NE 10 Player of the Week)- .435, 10 H, 2B, 5 HR (2 at Dixie State), 9 RBI, 1.130 SLG, 8 BB, .581 OBP; Maranda Clendenin, Arkansas-Monticello- .429, 6 H, 2 HR, grand slam, 8 RBI, 1.000 FLD; Lyndsay Butler, Wayne State University (GLIAC Pitcher of the Week)- 3-1, 0.00 ERA, 28 K, 3 BB, .145 opp BA, 2 SHO, .550, 11 H, 2B, 3B, 6 RBI, GW double vs. Wisconsin-Parkside; Samantha Ohmie, Saint Leo (SSC Player of the Week)- .538, 7 H, 2 HR, 6 RBI, walk-off homer in bottom of 9th vs. Embry-Riddle; Claire Johnson, Southern Indiana (GLVC Player of the Week)- .500, 9 H, 2 2B, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 7 R; Clara Larson, Colorado School of Mines (RMAC Player of the Week)- .615 (8-for-13), 2 2B, 2 HR, 3B, 8 RBI, 1.385 SLG, .647 OBP; Courtney Barnhill, Angelo State- .533, 8 H, 2 2B, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R, 1.267 SLG; Holly Magre, McKendree (GLVC Pitcher of the Week)- 3-0, 2 SHO, 0.77 ERA, 18 K, 18 IP; Sydni Pauley, Northwood (GLIAC Player of the Week)- .389, 4 HR, 8 RBI; Jalissa Gum, Arkansas Tech (GAC Pitcher of the Week)- 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 1 R, 0 ER, SHO, 26 K, 4 BB, 14 IP; Ashley Scott, Union (Gulf South Freshman of the Week)- .615, 8 H, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 5 R; Sydney Beuthien, Lubbock Christian (Heartland Hitter of the Week)- 5-for-7 (.714), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 R, 1.571 in doubleheader at Eastern New Mexico; Emmie Robertson, Pittsburg State (MIAA Pitcher of the Week-3-0, 0.38 ERA, 2 SHO, 27 K, 18.1 IP.
