April 19, 2011

Contact: Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Sports Information & Media Services, cwaller@naia.org

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Emily Bergstrom of Houston-Victoria (Texas) has been tabbed as the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Kayla Lucas of Central Baptist (Ark.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Bergstrom and Lucas are the sixth honorees of the 2011 season. The pair was chosen, based on their performances from April 11 – 17, out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 24 conference/independent/unaffiliated groupings.

Bergstrom, a 5-8 junior pitcher from El Campo, Texas, became the first Jaguar ace to toss a perfect game in the 3-0 win over Huston-Tillotson (Texas) on April 12. She fanned eight batters in the process. Four days later in the 3-0 win against Prairie View A&M (Texas), Bergstrom allowed three hits and struck out six in the complete-game victory.

She extended her streak to 20-straight scoreless innings and has allowed just one run in her last 24 innings in the circle. On the season, she improved her record to 15-4 and has pitched six shutouts. In the country, Bergstrom ranks second in walks allowed per game (0.54).

Lucas, a 5-9 senior third baseman from Marion, Ark., led Central Baptist offensively during an 8-0 week. The fifth-ranked Mustangs defeated teams such as No. 8 Oklahoma City and No. 24 Columbia (Mo.). From the plate, she batted .591 (13-for-22), including 10 extra-base hits (six home runs and four doubles). She compiled 22 RBIs, scored 15 times and had nine walks. In the 6-1 road win at Oklahoma City on April 15, she smashed a grand slam in the top of the eighth inning. Overall, she posted five games with multi-hits, including a 3-for-3 effort in the 8-0 victory against Bacone (Okla.) on April 12.

Lucas ranks first  in the NAIA in total RBIs (63), third in total home runs (16), fourth in runs scored (60) and total bases (134) and fifth in total hits (70).

For a complete listing of all the national statistical leaders, click here.

The next Player of the Week announcement will be on April 26.

Pitcher Nominees: Cassie White, Lyon (Ark.); Noelle McDowell, Oklahoma Baptist; Emma Holden, California Baptist; Melanie Gonzalez, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Maria Buckingham, William Jewell (Mo.); Hollind Englert, Bethany (Kan.); Sara Jane Webster, Dickinson State (N.D.); Ali Thompson, Shawnee State (Ohio); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.); Alison Vanhavermaet, Viterbo (Wis.); Karlee Despres, Davenport (Mich.); Kayla Duke, Indiana-Southeast; Valerie Teter; Columbia (Mo.); Emma Remy, Morningside (Iowa); Emily Gwaltney, Marian (Ind.); Falon Catalano, Union (Ky.); Emily Guess, Central Baptist (Ark.); Lindsey Martin, Warner (Fla.); Erin Ebert, Walsh (Ohio); Jordyn Kurtz, Southern Oregon; Krista Coffin, Maine-Presque Isle; Kelly Wieczorek, Bellevue (Neb.); Lanay Parks, Purdue-North Central (Ind.).

Player Nominees: Allison Hinton, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Ikea Mauldin, Dickinson State (N.D.); Marissa Rangel, Texas Wesleyan; Sophia Galati, Lindenwood (Mo.); Christian Jaques, Belhaven (Miss.); Betsy Ward, Viterbo (Wis.); Brianna Carpenter, Davenport (Mich.); Kate Toney, Indiana-Southeast; Felicia Woodard, Williams Baptist (Ark.); Kati Steffen, Morningside (Iowa); Kayla Van Dieren, Lubbock Christian (Texas); Shelby Lamb, Union (Tenn.); Cheyenne Stewart, Friends (Kan.); Katrina Klingberg, Bethel (Ind.); Jamie Reed, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Dana Brown, Walsh (Ohio); Kathryn Moy, Southern Oregon; Jessaca Spears, SCAD Savannah (Ga.); Danielle Humphrey, Maine-Presque Isle; Alex Jane Clemmons, Campbellsville (Ky.); CeCe Luster, Biola (Calif.); Andrea Thibaudeau, Reinhardt (Ga.); Macy Wright, Oklahoma Wesleyan.

2011 Softball Weekly Honors (Player, Pitcher):

Week 1 (March 15): Tina Galinato, California Baptist; Anyibell Ramirez, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)

Week 2 (March 22): Annalee Carr, Belhaven (Miss.); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.)

Week 3 (March 29): Anna Frazee, Shorter (Ga.); Brandi Richards, Auburn Montgomery (Ala.)

Week 4 (April 5): Charisse Colston, Notre Dame (Ohio); Anna Ard, William Carey (Miss.)

Week 5 (April 12): Kelli Traffas, Bethany (Kan.); Anyibell Ramirez, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)

Week 6 (April 19): Kayla Lucas, Central Baptist (Ark.); Emily Bergstrom, Houston-Victoria (Texas)