2023 Softball Players of the Week

Bella Velez, Spalding University

Velez blasted three home runs in four games last week, hitting .583 over that span and driving in 7. She finished the week with a 1.417 slugging percentage, going 7-for-12 at the plate with a double, and walked three times. She had two multiple-hit games including a three-hit game against Greenville. 

The sophomore pitcher picked up a pair of wins for the Griffins last week while adding one appearance in relief. She threw a total of 15.1 innings, recording a 1.37 earned-run average with 17 strikeouts. Her best outing was a four-hit shutout win over Webster in which she struck out five.

Grayce Marcum, Spalding University

Marcum broke the conference record for triples in a season, with her 11th of the year. She hit .650 last week while driving in nine and hitting two home runs. The sophomore also scored seven times and added one stolen base. She finished the week with a 1.250 slugging percentage and four multi-hit games.

Bernal doubled her win total on the season with three victories last week for the Panthers. The sophomore threw 21 innings over four appearances, going 3-0 with a 0.00 earned-run average. She struck out 12 batters and limited opponents to just 13 hits on the week. 

Paige Thomas, Webster University

The junior catcher batted .650 over six games for the Gorloks last week, hitting one home run and driving in 7. She had five multi-hit games including a pair of three-hit performances. Thomas twice drove in three during Gorlok wins on the week and finished with a .950 slugging percentage.

Kutz notched a pair of wins over conference opponents last week for the Griffins. She threw six innings in a win over Westminster, holding them to two runs and five hits. She followed with seven innings and 13 strikeouts in a victory over Greenville. On the week she worked 13 innings, striking out 13 and allowing just four runs and two walks.

Bella Velez, Spalding University

Velez finished last week with a .600 batting average in four games, driving in 6 and scoring 4 runs. The junior had hits in all four games including a pair of three-hit performances. She finished with a .867 slugging percentage and added one stolen base. 

Ferman picked up a pair of wins in the circle last week, finishing with a 1.00 earned-run average and 17 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched. The freshman held Blackburn to five hits, striking out 8, and followed with nine more strikeouts against Eureka.

Mia Boyd, Greenville University

Boyd hit .667 over five games last week with 3 home runs and 8 runs batted in. She also scored 5 times and finished with a 1.278 slugging percentage. The sophomore had three multi-hit games including a five-hit outing in game one of a doubleheader against Webster. She drove in at least one run in all five games and added one stolen base. 

Kutz notched a pair of wins in the circle last week, going 2-0 with a 0.88 earned-run average. She struck out 15 over 16 innings and held opponents to just seven hits on the week. Kutz threw 9 innings in a win over WashU and followed with 12 strikeouts in a 7-inning win over Spalding.  

Jaelin Holdaway, Webster University

A junior catcher, Holdaway hit .625 in a conference sweep of Blackburn. She was 5-for-8 on the day with 5 RBI and one run scored. She had four hits in the nightcap, driving in four. Holdaway had three doubles in her five hits and finished with a 1.000 slugging percentage. 

Klaus notched a pair of wins last week for Greenville, finishing the week with a 2-0 record and a 0.58 earned-run average. She threw a complete game against Augustana, working 7 innings and allowing just five hits whiles striking out 6. She followed with 5 innings in a win over Lawrence, striking out 7 and allowing just 1 run. 

Boyd batted .357 over six games last week, driving in nine and finishing with a .571 on-base percentage. The sophomore drew seven walks and had two doubles and one home run in her five hits on the week. She had hits in five of the games with two multiple RBI games. 

Ferman wins her second award this season after throwing a complete game against Mississippi University for Women. The freshman tossed 7 innings while striking out five. 

The sophomore outfielder hit .355 with 2 home runs and 10 runs batted in over eight games last week. Marcum went 11-for-31 at the plate with 11 runs scored and a .806 slugging percentage on the week. She had four multi-hit games. Her best day was in a split doubleheader on March 18 when she went 5-for-8 with 5 runs scored and 7 RBI in the two games. 

McMann won all three of her starts in the circle last week, making five appearances in total. The senior worked 22 1/3 innings on the week, recording a 2.19 earned-run average and 11 strikeouts. She had two complete games and walked just four batters on the week. Her best outing was against Skidmore in which she went 7 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four.

The freshman went 8-for-13 in four games for the Gorloks last week, hitting .615 and finishing with a .846 slugging percentage. Adzick had a pair of four-hit games and scored three times while driving in seven on the week. She had three doubles and drew two walks.

The freshman pitcher recorded her first two collegiate wins last week, finishing the week 2-0 with a 0.00 earned run average and 12 strikeouts. She threw three no-hit innings of relief against Worcester State, striking out three. Ferman then threw a complete game against Scranton, allowing one unearned run and striking out nine.

The sophomore infielder batted .667 in two games over the weekend, finishing with four runs batted in and a 1.167 slugging percentage. Boyd picked up two hits in both games including a home run against Monmouth. She was 4-for-6 with two runs scored on the week. 

Klaus won her season opener, a 3-1 decision over Hanover. The senior worked 7 innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs. She struck out nine batters in the game, picking up the complete game win.

A senior infielder, Vandermierden hit .600 on the week; going 6-for-10 from the plate in four games. She had hits in three of the games including two multi-hit games. Vandermierden finished with one walk, one double, and one triple on the week; recording a .900 slugging percentage. 

Matthews went 1-1 in three appearances for the Griffins last week, finishing with a 0.88 earned-run average. She picked up her win over Centre, going 6 innings and striking out one while scattering six hits. On the week she allowed 7 hits in 8 innings, finishing with two strikeouts.