April 4, 2007

NAIA Softball Player of the Week
Indiana Tech utility player Jessica Williams is this the NAIA Softball Player of the Week after helping Indiana Tech to a 4-3 mark in seven games with a .667 batting average and a slugging percentage of 1.190.

Williams opened the week by going 5-for-6 in a double-header split against Tri State University, belting a home run in each game and driving in seven combined, including five RBIs in a 4-for-4 outing in an 8-6 game two win.

Indiana Tech then moved into a doubleheader against Huntington (Ind.), and Williams went 2-for-6 in the two game set, drawing a walk in the opening game. Indiana Tech followed by sweeping a double-header from Concordia (Mich.), as Williams opened the twinbill with a 3-for-4, two-RBI performance in a 4-1 win in the opener. She then helped Indiana Tech win game two 11-0 with a 1-for-2 game at the plate, driving in two with a walk and a base hit. She also scored a run in each game.

Indiana Tech closed the week with a loss to Aquinas (Mich.), a game in which Williams went 3-for-3 with a run scored, two doubles, a home run and three RBIs. She finished the week 14-of-21 at the plate with six runs scored, three home runs, 14 driven in and two walks.

Other nominees included: Stephanie Stowe, Columbia (Mo.); Angelica DeVries, Houston Baptist; Allison Horton, Campbellsville (Ky.); Nicole Barker, Saint Xavier (Ill.); Gina Schneider, Ohio Dominican; Nikkie Marcoux, Jamestown (N.D.); Jill Prather, Park (Mo.); Alicia King, Virginia-Wise; Amanda Doherty, Oregon Tech; Jessica Eggold, Belhaven (Miss.); Chantal Millard, California Baptist; Brittany Kelley, Savannah Art & Design (Ga.).

Saint Xavier (Ill.) pitcher Ashley Shearer.

NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week
Saint Xavier (Ill.) pitcher Ashley Shearer is the NAIA Softball Pitcher of the Week after turning in a pair of conference wins and a five-inning perfect game to open the week.

Shearer started off with her marquee performance of the week, striking out nine in five innings for a perfect game, 11-0 win over Calumet St. Joseph (Ind.). She then followed the outing with four fanned batters and only one walk in a two-hit shut-out win over Purdue-North Central (Ind.).

Shearer allowed only two hits on the week and struck out 13 batters, allowing only one walk and compiling a 0.00 ERA on the week. She pitched 12.0 innings over the two-game span, helping Saint Xavier to two of its four wins on the week with a pair of complete-game performances.

Other nominees this week included: Katie Zillner, Albertson (Idaho); Chelsey White, Bellevue (Neb.); Erinne Metler, Geneva (Pa.); Kelly Vooris, Campbellsville (Ky.); Kelly Baumert, Morningside (Iowa); Megan Neale, Bacone (Okla.); Elisabeth Barber, Shorter (Ga.); Amanda Wheeler Sims, Virginia-Wise; Christa Hummer, William Woods (Mo.); Jennifer Olvera, Vanguard (Calif.); Meghan Temple, Savannah Art & Design (Ga.), Brittney Hire, Bethel (Ind.).