March 28, 2011

Co-Player of the Week:
Liz Watkins, Iowa
Jr., C, Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rockbridge

Watkins hit at a .714 clip and finished the week with six RBI, leading Iowa to a series sweep on the road against Ohio State last week. The junior backstop was 5-of-7 at the plate last week in which she drove in three runs in each contest against the Buckeyes. In the series opener, she was a perfect 4-for-4 with a double and a run scored. In the finale on Sunday, Watkins belted a three-run home run in her first at-bat and scored two runs as Iowa went on to a 7-2 win and the series sweep. It is the second Big Ten Player of the Week honor of Watkins’ career.

Last Iowa Player of the Week: Stephanie Ochoa (March 21, 2011)

Cassidy Bell, Penn State
So., OF, Bakersfield, Calif./Liberty

Bell finished the week with four hits, all of which went for doubles, hitting .667 to help Penn State to a series sweep over Wisconsin. In the series opener the sophomore went 2-for-4 at the plate, drove in a pair runs, scored two more and stole a base in an 8-5 victory. In the series finale on Sunday, Bell hit safely in both at-bats, scored twice and stole her second base of the weekend as Penn State earned the 3-2 win and the series sweep. It is her first Big Ten Player of the Week honor.

Last Penn State Player of the Week: Danielle Kinley (Feb. 13, 2007)

Pitcher of the Week:
Lisa Akamine, Penn State
Jr., P, Escondido, Calif./Escondido

Akamine allowed just one hit in 8.2 innings of work and pitched in both Penn State victories against Wisconsin last weekend. The junior earned the win on Saturday, tossing 3.2 innings of relief in which she struck out four Badgers to cement the 8-5 Nittany Lion win. On Sunday, she took the ball to start the game in which she gave up one hit through five innings, allowed one run and struck out seven as Penn State earned the series sweep with a 3-2 win. Akamine finished the week with a 0.81 ERA and held Wisconsin batters to just .037 hitting to clinch her second career Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolade.

Freshman of the Week:
Andie Varsho, Purdue
OF, Chili, Wis./Marshfield

Varsho earns her third Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor after hitting .545 and leading the Boilermakers to a 3-0 record last week. Notching two multi-hit games, the freshman finished with an OPS of 1.454 after ripping six hits, including two doubles and a triple, last week. Varsho was a perfect 4-for-4 on the base paths, swiping two bags each against Toledo and Ball State, also accounting for two RBI and a run last week to help Purdue to its best start in program history.

Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Andie Varsho (March 14, 2011)

Big Ten Softball

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