Oregon’s Lilley, Kent State’s Johnson Named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Player and Pitcher of the Week

Oregon freshman Jenna Lilley and Kent State senior Emma Johnson were selected 2015 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division I National Pitcher and Player of the Week respectively, for games played over April 20-26.

Jenna Lilley

Lilley had a masterful weekend in helping the second-ranked Ducks complete a big non-conference sweep of then-No. 9 Louisiana-Lafayette. The rookie third baseman hit. 750 (6-for-8), with a double, home run, six RBI, three runs scored and a .800 on base percentage. She recorded at least one hit and a run in each game and was flawless defensively at the hot corner. This is Lilley’s second honor earning her first plaudit on Feb. 24.

“I’m honored to receive this recognition and I want to thank my coaches and teammates for putting me in this position,” Lilley said.

The North Canton, Ohio native opened by going 3-for-3 with a long ball and four-RBI in game one. She added a double and two more RBI in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Lilley completed her weekend with a 2-for-3 effort in which she scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning.

“This is another great honor for Jenna and our program,” said head coach Mike White. “This award is a reflection of all of her hard work and drive to be a great player.”

Emma Johnson

Turning in her most dominant weekend of her collegiate career, Johnson tossed 22.1 scoreless innings with three shutouts, a no-hitter, one-hitter and two-hitter. The senior hurler, struck out 29 batters, and held her opposition to a miniscule .044 batting average, which included not allowing a hit in the first 13 innings of work. Johnson’s masterful performance extended her scoreless streak to 30 innings.

“This is very a great and humbling honor,” Emma Johnson said. “My rise ball was really working this pat weekend. I never go into a game thinking about throwing no-hitter, but it is great to be able to do my part to help the team win. My focus in on getting ahead in counts and getting outs. My catcher, Erika Warren, and have a game plan for opposing batters and we did a great job of executing it. It was a great overall weekend for the team and we are moving in the right direction as we get closer to the MAC Tournament.”

In the opener at Bowling Green, Johnson fanned 13 and was a walk away from a perfect game in 3-0 triumph. She entered game two of the twinbill with two outs in the bottom of the sixth and preserved the 1-0 lead by retiring all four batters, two via strikeout, picking up the save. Johnson, who hails from Groveport Ohio, twirled back-to-back complete game shutouts the next at Toledo. She struck out nine and surrendered two hits in the opener and turned right around and allowed just one hit and struck out five in game two.

“This is a great honor and accomplishment for Emma,” said head coach Karen Linder. “I am so proud of all that she has achieve this season and am happy that she s being recognized for her efforts. She has been dominating this year and this last weekend, she was exceptional.”

Player of the Week
April 28 – Jenna Lilley (Oregon)
April 21 – Sami Fagan (Missouri)
April 14 – Yvon Minogue (South Dakota)
April 7 – Sabrina Gamboa (Western Michigan)
March 31 – Mallory Foster (UT Arlington)
March 24 – Sara Hingsberger (Weber State)
March 17 – Bianka Bell (LSU)
– Shelby Pendley (Oklahoma)
March 10 – Kacie Burnett (Idaho State)
March 3 – A.J. Andrews (LSU)
Feb. 24 – Jenna Lilley (Oregon)
Feb. 17 – Lauren Haeger (Florida)
Feb. 10 – Lindsey Stephens (Texas)

Pitcher of the Week
April 28 – Emma Johnson (Kent State)
April 21 – Megan Betsa (Michigan)
April 14 – Paige Parker (Oklahoma)
April 7 – Shelby Turnier (UCF)
March 31 – Shelby Turnier (UCF)
March 24 – Haley Chambers (SIU Edwardsville)
March 17 – Ally Carda (UCLA)
March 10       – Ally Carda (UCLA)
March 3 – Delanie Gourley (Florida)
Feb. 24 – Cheridan Hawkins (Oregon)
Feb. 17 – Shelby Turnier (UCF)
Feb. 10 – Miranda Kramer (Western Kentucky)

Selected Top Performances

• Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Sara Groenewegen of Minnesota was 3-0 with 25 strikeouts, did not surrender a run, allowed just three hits and twirled a no-hitter versus North Dakota State…
• Georgia State’s Lauren Coleman was tabbed Sun Belt Player of the Week after batting .538 (7-for-13) with a double, triple, four home runs, 14 RBI, six run scored and a 1.692 slugging percentage…
• Central Connecticut State’s Laura Messina grabbed NEC weekly accolades after 5-1 week in which she posted a 0.52 ERA, struck out 37 and walked just six in 40 inning of work…
• Lauren Haeger of Florida was named SEC Co-Pitcher of the Week staying undefeated at 23-0 with a victory over No. 10 Florida and two over No. 25 Texas A&M; She struck out 17 and posted a 1.65 ERA…
• Maryssa Becker of Louisville took home the ACC Pitcher of the Week plaudit by going 3-0 with a 0.32 ERA, 22 strikeouts, three walks and eight hits allowed in 21.2 innings…
• Saint Louis’ Alex Nickel batted .563 (9-for-16) with four home runs, seven RBI, nine runs, four walks, four stolen bases and a 1.312 slugging percentage to earn the Atlantic-10 Player of the Week nod…
• Mountain West Pitcher of the Week Jill Compton of Fresno State was 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA and struck out 25 batters in 16.1 innings of work…
• Miranda Kramer of Western Kentucky struck out 59 batters and allowed just one earned run, while tossing a no-hitter and posted two 18-strikeout performances to take home her seventh C-USA Pitcher of the Week award…
• Northwestern’s Andrea Fuller was selected Big Ten Player of the Week after batting .643 with 12 RBI, six runs, two longballs a .714 OBP and 1.214 slugging percentage…
• SWAC Hitter of the Week, Prairie View A&M’s Destinee Williams hits .467 with three doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI and eight runs scored…
• Pacific’s Dani Bonnet snagged WCC Pitcher of the Week recognition after posting a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA with five strikeouts in a pair of complete game shutouts of Santa Clara…
• JMU’s Jailyn Ford collected CAA Player of the Week honors after batting .571 with two home runs, six RBI and six runs scored and also twirled a complete game shutout…
• AAC Player of the Week, East Carolina’s Karlie Smith blasted two grand slams, scored five runs and knocked in 10…
• Missouri State’s Erin Duewel cranked four home runs and slugged 1.375 with a .500 average and eight RBI to garner Missouri Valley Player of the Week accolades…
• BIG EAST Player of the Week, DePaul’s Mary Connolly batted .455 with four extra-base hits, seven RBI and was 3-0 with 1.84 ERA in 19 innings of work…
• Hofstra’s Morgan Lashley was 4-0 with a 0.42 ERA with 20 strikeouts and a .123 opponents batting average in 16.2 innings to garner CAA Pitcher of the Week accolades…
• BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week, Francesca Carrullo of St. John’s tossed a no-hitter with eight strikeouts against Creighton…
• Texas State’s Randi Rupp captured Sun Belt Player of the Week plaudits after going 4-0 with a 0.58 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 24.1 innings of work…
• Norfolk State’s Liz Riley was named MEAC Pitcher of the Week after tossing 14 scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and fanning 12 to earn a pair of wins…
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week, McKenzie Long of Michigan State batted .727 with three doubles, three RBI, a .769 on-base percentage and was 6-for-7 in the Spartans’ league series against Indiana…
• Missouri’s Paige Lowary was selected SEC Freshman of the week going 3-0 with a 0.67 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 21 inning pitched.

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CSUN’s Savannah Horvarth slugs her way to USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week

After helping her team to a Big West Conference series win at Long Beach State, Cal State Northridge (CSUN) freshman infielder Savannah Horvath (Las Vegas, Nev.) has earned her first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week honors the Amateur Softball Association (ASA)/USA Softball announced Tuesday.

The second baseman batted .750 (6-for-8) with three extra-base hits and three RBI as the Matadors posted their first series win against Long Beach State since the 2002 season.  For her efforts, Horvath also earned her second Big West Conference Player of the Week honors.

“I am extremely honored to win this award. A team is not just one person, it is multiple people contributing to the squad’s success,” said Horvath.  “This makes all the extra work we put in worth it. None of this would be possible without the help and support of my teammates. Their perseverance and support keep me going each and every day.”

“I have been seeing the ball well lately.  I have become better at seeing the ball and keeping my composure at the plate.  I have a lot more confidence and when I see a good pitch, I attack it.  I would like to thank my family. Without them none of this would be possible. The extra time they have put in to let me pursue my goals has helped my dreams come true. They have sacrificed so much and they are the reason I go out and perform to my best every day.”

Horvath had two hits in each game and batted .750 in the three-game series against the 49ers. In their first meeting, Horvath was near perfect with a 2-for-3 outing where she belted her 13th double of the season and added two RBI.  She followed up with another standout performance in game two, blasting her ninth home run of the season while crossing the plate twice.

In the series finale, Horvath was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 where she added her second double of the weekend.  She also added a sacrifice bunt and played perfect defense in 13 chances at second base in the three games.

“We are extremely excited for Savannah,” said CSUN Head Coach Tairia Flowers.  “As a freshman playing a key role for us, she has stepped in and performed with confidence throughout the season. All the hard work she puts in is certainly paying off.  This weekend, she played some solid defense and communicated well on the field with her teammates. At the plate, she was aggressive and I don’t think I saw her take a weak swing in three games.”

For the weekend, Horvath combined for a 6-for-8 (.750) performance at the plate with one home run, two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored.  She also boasted a .778 on-base and 1.375 slugging percentage.  For the season, Horvath is batting .358 with 30 runs, 14 doubles, nine home runs, 38 RBI and 13 stolen bases.

This is the first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week honor for Horvath and is the first USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week honors for an athlete from CSUN.

2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 5-8): Taylor Schoblocher – North Texas – Junior – Utility – Forney, Texas
Week 2 (Feb. 9-15): Lauren Haeger – Florida – Senior – Pitcher/1B – Peoria, Ariz.
Week 3 (Feb. 16-22): Jenna Lilley – Oregon – Freshman – Infield – North Canton, Ohio
Week 4 (Feb. 23 – March 1): Sierra Lawrence – Michigan – Junior – Outfield – Snellville, Ga.
Week 5 (March 2-8): Emily Carosone – Auburn – Junior – Outfield – Orlando, Fla.
Week 6 (March 9-15): Bianka Bell – LSU – Junior – Infield – Tampa, Fla.
Week 7 (March 16-22): Megan Good – James Madison – Freshman – Pitcher/Infielder – Mount Sidney, Va.
Week 8 (March 23-29): Geri Ann Glasco – Oregon – Junior – DP/Pitcher – Watkinsville, Ga.
Week 9 (March 30 – April 5): Shelby Turnier – UCF – Junior – Pitcher – Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Week 10 (April 6-12): Paige Parker – OU – Freshman – Pitcher – Independence, Mo.
Week 11 (April 13-19): Lexie Elkins – Louisiana-Lafayette – Junior – Catcher – Victoria, Texas
Week 12 (April 20-26): Savannah Horvath – CSUN – Freshman – Infield – Las Vegas, Nev.