Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – MacKenzie Bowden of William Woods (Mo.) has been named the NAIA Softball National Pitcher of the Week and Alyssa Miller of Ottawa (Kan.) has been selected as the National Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. Bowden and Miller were selected based on their performances from March 31 – April 6 and were chosen out of a pool of conference, independent and unaffiliated group winners.

Bowden, a 5-foot-5 senior pitcher from Hartsburg, Mo., did not allow a single run, while recording 30 strikeouts in 17 innings last week. She was the pitcher of record in three of four games with wins over Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) (9-0), Mid-Continent (Ky.) (8-0) and Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (12-0). In the fourth game, which was the nightcap against Freed-Hardeman on April 5, Bowden posted the save as she went 1.0 inning and struck out one batter. The highlight occurred when she tossed her first-ever perfect game in the 12-0 win against Freed-Hardeman. She fanned 12 of the 15 batters in the five-inning victory.

On the season, Bowdon is 13-7 in the circle with a 1.06 ERA and has totaled an American Midwest Conference-leading 193 strikeouts. Nationally, she ranks No. 2 in strikeouts per nine innings (11.3), No. 10 in opponent batting average (0.163) and No. 15 in ERA (1.06).

Miller, a 5-foot-4 senior outfielder from Ottawa, Kan., batted .846 (11-for-13) and posted totals of 10 runs, four RBIs and three extra-base hits. In four games last week, all wins, Miller (pictured top left) was 3-of-4 in the stolen base department and finished with a slugging percentage of 1.308. She went 4-for-4 from the plate in the 14-4 victory over Saint Mary (Kan.) on April 4. Miller launched her first homer of the season and had three RBIs.

In national rankings, Miller is 25th in stolen bases (21). She stands first on the team in runs scored (28) and triples (3) and is second in batting average (.353) and hits (36).

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

The next NAIA National Softball Players of the Week will be announced April 15.

Player Nominees: Marli Hayes, Columbia (Mo.); Katie Rietkovich, Reinhardt (Ga.); Melissa Reynosa, Menlo (Calif.); McKensie Stanton, College of Idaho; Cheryl Sendzik, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Anna Gunderson, Taylor (Ind.); Regan Rucks, Great Falls (Mont.); Hannah Romanski, San Diego Christian (Calif.); Sam Valadez, Doane (Neb.); Chelsey Streibich, MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.); Kristina Brown, Fisher (Mass.); Shelby Hobelman, Ashford (Iowa); Ashley Morran, Point Park (Pa.); Travatia Bowden, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.); Ashley Gigax, Bellevue (Neb.); Brittanee Grove, William Penn (Iowa); Brenda Botzenhart, Presentation (S.D.); Danielle Aguilar, Our Lady of the Lake (Texas); Randi Yousey, St. Gregory's (Okla.); Lizzie Fela, Southern Wesleyan (S.C.); Aimee Johnson, Thomas (Ga.); Taylor Hayes, Siena Heights (Mich.).

Pitcher Nominees: Kaitie Sims, Bryan (Tenn.); Kelly Hager, Menlo (Calif.); Nickayla Skinner, College of Idaho; Caitlin Santefort, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Natalie Newell, Bethel (Ind.); Kirstie Thomas, Great Falls (Mont.); Reba Depriest, Biola (Calif.); Sammy Hislop, Midland (Neb.); Sam Bolin, Culver-Stockton (Mo.); Brenna Westemeir, Friends (Kan.); Summer Ratliff, Asbury (Ky.); Allie Chapman, Shawnee State (Ohio); Leah Kipfer, College of Saint Mary (Neb.); Haleigh Munson, Grand View (Iowa); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Hannah Wilbur, Oklahoma Baptist; Caroline Sagrera, Spring Hill (Ala.); Kristy Cook, USC Beaufort (S.C.); Bree Crampton, Madonna (Mich.).

2014 Softball Weekly Honors (Player, Pitcher):
Week 1 (March 18): Hannah Gardner, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Nicole Nonnemacher, Saint Xavier (Ill.)
Week 2 (March 25): Annette Merjano, Concordia (Calif.); Lucy Baldovino, Concordia (Ore.)
Week 3 (April 1): Abbey Wilmes, Grand View (Iowa); Bree Crampton, Madonna (Mich.)
Week 4 (April 8): Alyssa Miller, Ottawa (Kan.); MacKenzie Bowden, William Woods (Mo.)