RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the league’s Players of the Week for the fourth week of the 2015 softball season. Arkansas-Monticello’s Kali Piha captured the Player of the Week award and Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Jacee Bennett claimed the Pitcher of the Week honor.
GAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Kali Piha, Arkansas-Monticello, LF, Jr., Bentonville, Arkansas
Piha powered the Cotton Blossoms to a four-game sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State. She hit .625 with a home run, 10 RBI and three runs scored. In the opener, she hit a third-inning grand slam to break a 2-2 tie. In game two, she went a perfect 4-for-4 with three more RBI. On Saturday, she opened with a 3-for-5 performance with three more RBI.
GAC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Jacee Bennett, Southeastern Oklahoma State, RHP, Sr., Colbert, Oklahoma
Bennett picked up three wins for No. 24 Southeastern Oklahoma State against Ouachita Baptist. She opened with a four-hit complete game win in which she struck out seven. In game two of Friday’s doubleheader, she picked up a win in relief after striking out four in two scoreless frames. In game three of the series, she allowed one earned run in 6.0 innings of work.
NOTABLE PLAYER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
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Ashton Atwell, Jr., OF, Southern Arkansas (Collected nine hits in 16 at bats; homered twice and posted a 1.125 slugging pct)
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Jill Clemence, Jr., OF, Southern Nazarene (Posted a .538 average with three RBI as SNU took three of four from Harding)
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Jordan Haya, Jr., SS, Northwestern Oklahoma State (Homered twice and drove in five runs; hit .533 vs Southern Arkansas)
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Kambri Hill, Jr., OF, Arkansas Tech (Reigning Player of the Week hit .500 with a home runs in two wins vs Pittsburg State)
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Haley Strawn, Sr., SS, Southeastern Oklahoma State (In series sweep against Ouachita Baptist, hit .500 and scored five times)
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Lacey William-Wenholm, Sr., OF, East Central (Went 4-for-10 with a home run and three RBI in series vs Henderson State)
NOTABLE PITCHER OF THE WEEK NOMINEES
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Katelyn Brown, Fr., RHP, Southern Nazarene (Earned all three wins in series victory vs Harding; struck out 13 in game two)
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Sydney Dow, So., RHP, East Central (Held Henderson State to a .196 average in two appearances)
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Victoria Huie, Sr., RHP, Arkansas Tech (Threw and eight-hit complete game at Pittsburg State; allowed one unearned run)
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Katie Slaughter, Sr., RHP, Arkansas-Monticello (Struck out 16 in 14.0 IP; recorded a pair of complete-game wins vs SWOSU)