Story by Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Virginia McAndrews of Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) has been named the NAIA Softball National Pitcher of the Week and Kamara Trice of Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has been selected as the National Player of the Week, the national office announced Tuesday. McAndrews and Trice were selected based on their performances from April 7 – 13 and were chosen out of a pool of conference, independent and unaffiliated group winners.

McAndrews, a 5-foot-4 senior pitcher from Wheaton, Ill., was the pitcher of record in four contests last week for the Tigers. In 20 innings pitched, McAndrews did not allow a run and gave up just five hits. She twirled a perfect game in five innings against Viterbo (Wis.) on April 11 and finished with a no-hitter in five innings versus Roosevelt (Ill.) on April 12. In another contest, an 11-0 win over Robert Morris (Ill.) on April 9, McAndrews allowed just one hit. Overall on the week, she had a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 21:1.

In national statistics, McAndrews ranks No. 3 in ERA (0.550) and No. 6 in opponent batting average (.153)

Trice, a 5-foot-10 junior 3rd baseman from Henderson, Tenn., batted .688 (11-for-16), tallied 15 RBIs and posted seven extra-base hits, including three home runs in four games last week. She became the first Lady Lion in history to hit for the cycle, doing so in the 9-7 loss to Williams Baptist (Ark.) on April 10. In that contest, she needed a homer in her final at-bat to complete the cycle and smashed a three-run blast in the 10th inning. She also tied a school-record with six RBIs in the game. Trice recorded multiple hits in each contest and also drew two walks to reach base safely in 13-of-18 plate appearances. Trice also earned two wins in the circle, including a shutout against Lyon (Ark.) on April 12.

In national statistics, Trice ranks No. 25 in doubles (13) and No. 43 in total bases per game (2.3).

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

The next NAIA National Softball Players of the Week will be announced April 22.

Player Nominees: Kelsey Pruitt, Columbia (S.C.); Mary Hall, Menlo (Calif.); Julia Willison, Southern Oregon; Cheryl Sendzik, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Samantha Johnson, Grace (Ind.); Rebecca Lopez, Dickinson State (N.D.); Hannah Howell, Concordia (Calif.); Kati Steffen, Morningside (Iowa); Lauren Geringer, Central Methodist (Mo.); Rachel Laird, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Kristina Brown, Fisher (Mass.); Kelly Rumley, British Columbia; Laykyn Lindsay, Friends (Kan.); Shelby Lucas, Indiana Southeast; Bethany Davis, Cumberlands (Ky.); Corteney Torrez, Waldorf (Iowa); Jorden Steele, William Penn (Iowa); Samantha Mitchell, Dakota State (S.D.); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Emily Krienke, Oklahoma City; Emily Todd, Belhaven (Miss.); Alexandria Simmons, USC Beaufort (S.C.); Amber Getty, Davenport (Mich.).

Pitcher Nominees: Kaily Purtle, Park (Mo.); Erin Walker, Columbia (S.C.); Kindra Ryals, William Jessup (Calif.); McKenzie Marshall, Concordia (Ore.); Hannah Klebesadel, Taylor (Ind.); Regan Lawrence, Dickinson State (N.D.); Stevie Goldstein, Concordia (Calif.); Jordan Johnson, Morningside (Iowa); Katie Ricklefs, Benedictine (Kan.); Kendra Roth, Ashford (Iowa); Savannah Crittenden, Houston-Victoria (Texas); Gabby Markham, Ottawa (Kan.); Jessica Leanhart, Indiana Southeast; Kayla Williams, Georgetown (Ky.); Taylor Mohler, Bellevue (Neb.); Kathryn Brown, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Emily Snow, Jamestown (N.D.); Ciara Fraher, Southwest (N.M.); Amber Marlett, Texas Wesleyan; Jenny Shepherd, Brenau (Ga.); Alexis Estrada, Embry-Riddle (Fla.); Alyssa Eastman, Davenport (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.)
Week 5 (April 15): Kamara Trice, Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.); Virginia McAndrews, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)