KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Dana Gandolfo of Northwestern Oklahoma State has been selected as the NAIA Softball Player of the Week while Anna Smith of Rio Grande (Ohio) was awarded the NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week while for April 6-12.

Gandolfo, a junior designated player from Port Coquitlam, B.C., Canada, batted .625 with 1.167 slugging percentage last week.  In six games she went 15-24 with three homeruns, two triples, 14 RBI and 11 runs scored.  In a double header against No. 21 Southern Nazarene (Okla.), Gandolfo went a combined 6-10 at the plate with two homeruns and eight RBI.

Smith, a freshman pitcher from Ross, Ohio, notched two wins in two appearances last week. She threw back-to-back no-hitters against Point Park (Pa.), including a perfect game in the opener.  On the week, Smith pitched 12 innings while allowing zero earned runs, zero hits and struck out 8 batters.

The next Players of the Week will be announced on April 21.

Other Player of the Week Nominees:

Sarah Seymour, Dordt (Iowa); Shana Andres, Indiana-Southeast; Felicia Marmo, Bluefield (Va.); Mallory Meadows, Belhaven (Miss.); Kristen Lindley, Houston-Victoria (Tex.); Tiffany Ward, Bacone (Okla.); Bailey Dillender, Campbellsville (Ky.); Ashley Hunter, St. Xavier (Ill.); Alicia Boris, Martin Methodist (Tenn.); Kayla Murphy, Lindenwood (Mo.); Megan Monaghan, Easter Oregon; Kayla White, McKendree (Ill.); Mollie Jones, St. Mary (Neb.); Ashley Aspinall, Aquinas (Mich.); Leah Mork, William Penn (Iowa); Erikka Viehman, McPherson (Kan.); Sarah Beatty, Ohio Dominican; Moran Smith, Brenau (Ga.); Sarah Heinemann, Jamestown (N.D.); Courtney Mienkina, SCAD (Ga.); Amy Clem, Goshen (Ind.); Brittany Humphrey, Maine-Presque Isle; Erica Moyer, Biola (Calif.); Megan Finney, Menlo (Calif.)

Other Pitcher of the Week Nominees:
Jennifer Bartley, Indiana-Southeast; Emily Jimmerson, Faulkner (Ala.); Lauren Garza, Houston-Victoria (Tex.); Sara Jane Webster, Dickinson State (N.D); Tarrah Tucker, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Allison Horton, Campbellsville (Ky.); Jess Irwin, Madonna (Mich.); McCall Kenney, Central Methodist (Mo.); Jennifer Burns, Robert Morris (Ill.); Tricia Driver, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Melanie Bush, William Carey (Miss.); Kristen LeFan, Webber International (Fla.); Tyler Lent, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.); Brittany Calderon, Fisher (Mass.); Brandi Leeker, Friends (Kan.); Lauren Snead, Virginia-Wise; Brittney Hire, Bethel (Ind.); Becca Smith, Mount Mercy (Iowa); Alissa Crumley, Bellevue (Neb.); Jody Zillner, College of Idaho, Sharon Bell, St. Gregory’s (Okla.); Brianne Nutty, Dana (Neb.); Jessica Cantu, Bethany (Calif.)

2009 Composite Award Winners:

March 17:

Player - Ginalee Davis, Lubbock Christian (Texas)

Pitcher - Kristen LeFan, Webber International (Fla.)

March 24:

Player – Heather Pace, Belhaven (Miss.)

Pitcher – Sharon Bell, St. Gregory’s (Okla.)

March 31:

Player – Amanda Howard, Oklahoma City

Pitcher – Valerie Teter, Columbia (Mo.)

April 7:

Player - Bailey Dillender, Campbellsville (Ky.)

Pitcher - Jess Irwin, Madonna (Mich.)

April 14:

Player – Dana Gandolfo, Northwestern Oklahoma State

Pitcher – Anna Smith, Rio Grande (Ohio)

April 21:

Player

Pitcher

April 28:

Player

Pitcher