May 2, 2007

NAIA Softball Player of the Week
Oklahoma Baptist catcher Jayme Boyer is the NAIA Softball National Player of the Week after helping the Bison to a 7-1 record while batting .500 with four home runs and 10 RBIs. On the week, Boyer was 10-for-20 at the plate, scoring 12 runs while drawing nine walks and stealing two bases in two tries.

Boyer's week began with the Bison sweeping a double-header from Southern Nazarene; 5-4, 2-0. Despite not posting a base hit in the two-game sweep, the sophomore from Shawnee, Okla., drew a pair of walks and had an RBI in the series.

Boyer got her first hit of the week in game three, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and two driven in during OBU's only loss of the week, a 7-6 set-back to Science & Arts (Okla.). The Bison bounced back in game two, winning 3-2 behind a 2-for-3, two-run outing from Boyer that included a home run and an RBI.

Boyer went on to walk three times in the opening game of a double-header against Northwestern Oklahoma, scoring twice with only one official at bat in an 8-1 win over the Rangers. In game two, Boyer went 4-for-4 with two home runs, scoring three times with three RBIs and a stolen base to sweep the series with a 6-4 win.

The Bison ended the week with a twinbill sweep of Oklahoma Christian, winning game one 5-4 behind a 1-for-2 outing from Boyer that included a run scored, three driven in and a home run to go with a walk. In the finale, Oklahoma Baptist came away with a 3-1 triumph, as Boyer went 1-for-1 with three walks, scoring once with a stolen base.

Other nominees included: Jacki Plough, Aquinas (Mich.); Julia Thrasher, Evangel (Mo.); Carmen Davis, Indiana-Southeast; Dana Dunsmore, Dickinson State (N.D.); Jaci Warner, Saint Francis (Ill.); Cijay Koninui, Concordia (Ore.); Megan Duchene, Kansas Wesleyan; Sarah Jensen, Biola (Calif.); Jackie Masur, Urbana (Ohio); Meghan Temple, Savannah Art & Design (Ga.).

NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Midland Lutheran (Neb.) right-handed pitcher Kelly Sladek is the NAIA Softball National Pitcher of the Week after going 4-0 and carding a save with 42 strike outs in five outings last week.

Sladek helped Midland Lutheran sweep a double-header from Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) to open the week, coming in for the final two-thirds in game one and retiring the final two batters to earn her only save of the week. In game two, Sladek fanned eight in a five-inning no-hitter, walking only one as the Warriors run ruled DWU 8-0.

Sladek would go on to pitch in one game of the remaining two double-headers, beginning with a 4-2 win over Hastings (Neb.) that saw Sladek fire nine innings, giving up two runs on six hits with a dozen strike outs and three walks. During the game, Sladek took a shot back up the middle off of her throwing hand, but the freshman from Cordova, Neb., recovered to get the win in extra innings.

In her outing against Sioux Falls (S.D.), Sladek went all seven innings, surrendering only two hits and holding the Cougars without a walk while striking out 14 on the way to a 2-0 Warrior win. Sladek closed the week by tossing the final innings of a game that was resumed from April 20 against Briar Cliff, finishing with a seven-inning line that included two runs on three hits, striking out eight with five walks.

Sladek finished the week with a 0.98 ERA and a 4.67-to-1 strike-outs-to-walks ratio.

Other nominees included: Kayla Maddox, Northwood (Texas); Karin Perry, Belhaven (Miss.); Alyssa Fleser, Aquinas (Mich.); Katie McMahon, Columbia (Mo.); Amanda Stewart, Notre Dame (Ohio); Jen Miller, Bellevue (Neb.); Beth Williams, Tennessee Wesleyan; Nicolle Bartels, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Candice Thomas, California Baptist; Annele Huckins, Concordia (Ore.); Kristin Curette, Savannah Art & Design (Ga.).