Press release
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference announced the league’s fourth weekly awards for the 2019 softball season. Oklahoma Baptist’s Franki Hull claimed the Player honor; Arkansas Tech’s Bailey Shaffer earned the Pitcher accolade and Northwestern Oklahoma State’s Kalie Johnson won the Freshman award.
GAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Franki Hull, Oklahoma Baptist, C, So., Tecumseh, Oklahoma
Hull dominated at the plate in Oklahoma Baptist’s four-game series with Northwestern Oklahoma State. She went 11-for-14 with four multi-hit games. Seven of the 11 hits went for extra bases as she amassed five doubles and a pair of home runs. She hit one of the Lady Bison’s two first-inning grand slams in the series finale. She finished with seven RBI and six runs scored.
GAC SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Bailey Shaffer, Arkansas Tech, RHP, Sr., Guthrie, Oklahoma
Shaffer kept the Henderson State offense at bay as she threw 7.0 scoreless innings inside the circle during the series. In a duel with the Reddies’ Michelle Sorensen, she posted six scoreless innings of relief to earn her first victory of the season in a 1-0, 10-inning affair. She struck out eight in the victory. She added a scoreless frame in Monday’s opening contest.
GAC SOFTBALL FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK – Kalie Johnson, Northwestern Oklahoma State, INF, Tecumseh, Oklahoma
Johnson helped the Rangers earn a split with Oklahoma Baptist as she reached base nine times in the series. After going 2-for-7 with two runs scored and a stolen base on Sunday, she tallied six hits in Monday’s doubleheader, highlighted by a four-hit effort in game one. She hit the first home run of her collegiate career in the finale.
OTHERS NOMINATED
Makenzie Goins, INF, Arkansas Tech (Went 5-for-14 with a home run and four RBI); Madie Green, OF, Henderson State (Posted a .417 average and a .750 slugging percentage vs Arkansas Tech); Tarah Hilton, C/OF, East Central (Tallied eight RBI and hit two home runs against Southern Nazarene); Riley Kalman, SS, Southern Nazarene (Drove in eight runs as SNU won three out of four against ECU); Katie McCullar, DP/P, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Hit two home runs and drove in 10 runs against SWOSU); Peyton Mills, OF, Harding (Stole eight bases and hit .526 in six games); Faith Otts, 3B, Southern Arkansas (Homered twice and hit .400 as SAU swept Harding)
Elisa Favela, RHP, Southern Arkansas (Went 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA against Harding); Jacey Henry, RHP, East Central (Posted a 2.56 ERA with two complete games against SNU); Katie McCullar, RHP, Southeastern Oklahoma State (Picked up two wins against Southwestern Oklahoma State); Michelle Sorensen, RHP, Henderson State (Posted a 0.53 ERA and struck out 18 in 13.1 IP against Arkansas Tech); Brooklyn Sparkman, RHP, Southern Nazarene (Struck out 11 in three appearances against East Central)
Sarah Evans, SS, Southern Arkansas (Doubled twice and homered in sweep against Harding); Caitlin Lewis, RHP, Southern Nazarene (Earned a complete-game win against ECU)
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