May 3, 2010
Co-Players of the Week
Michelle Batts, Northwestern
Jr., DP, Bloomingdale, Ill./Glenbard North
Michelle Batts picks up the second weekly honor of her career after leading Northwestern to a sweep of Penn State with two game-winning home runs. The junior designated player drove in 13 runs in three games last week for the Wildcats. Batts began the week with a pair of run-scoring singles, driving in half of NU’s runs in a 6-1 non-conference victory over Illinois-Chicago. The Bloomingdale, Ill., native was just as impressive during conference play, starting a five-run second-inning rally with a leadoff double on Saturday in the opener versus Penn State. Then, with the Wildcats trailing by one run in the bottom of the fifth, she hit the 30th home run of her career to account for the final 8-6 score in an NU win. On Sunday, she began the game with a three-run home run in the first inning before earning an intentional walk in the third. Batts struck again in the bottom of the sixth with bases loaded, two outs and the score knotted at five, when she went yard for a grand-slam home run, the Northwestern victory and a career-best seven-RBI game. For the week, Batts batted .667 and slugged 1.778.
Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Nicole Pauly (April 26, 2010)
Molly Garst, Purdue
So., 3B, Webb City, Mo./Webb City
Molly Garst earns her first weekly honor as she bolstered the Purdue offense with an .833 batting average and 1.000 slugging percentage last week en route to four victories. The Webb City, Mo., native averaged 2.5 hits per game, while twice going 3-for-3 at the plate. She swiped a single-game record-tying three stolen bases in Game 2 of the Minnesota series, tallying seven for the week. She scored seven of Purdue’s runs and drove in two. Against Michigan State, Garst went 5-for-6, including three steals, two runs, and a perfect day at the plate in Game 2. Versus Minnesota, she also went 5-for-6 with five runs scored, including a Purdue single-game-record-tying four in Game 2. She also scored the game-winning run in Game 2 after reaching on a bunt single in the third. The sophomore extended her hitting streak to nine games, her second-longest of the season and the second-longest stretch among the Boilermakers.
Last Purdue Player of the Week: Candice Curtis (May 11, 2009)
Pitcher of the Week
Suzie Rzegocki, Purdue
Jr., RHP, Lemont, Ill./LemontSuzie Rzegocki went 3-0 in the circle with two shutouts and a save, breaking the Purdue single-season strikeouts record (196) with 12 on the week, boosting her tally to 202 for the year. The performance earns the right-handed pitcher her first weekly accolade of the season and the second in her career. She allowed just one earned run in 19 innings of work, posting a 0.37 ERA. In Game 2 against Michigan State, she pitched to just one batter en route to the save, but entered the game with runners at first and second and two outs with a two-run lead. Rzeogocki issued the record-tying strikeout to that batter to end the threat before her offense capped the win in the bottom of the sixth. Rzegocki also aided her own effort in the victories with a .333 average at the plate and five RBI. She tallied a hit in Game 2 against Michigan State. The Lemont, Ill., had a double, five RBI, four runs and three stolen bases on the week.
Last Purdue Pitcher of the Week: Suzie Rzegocki (March 9, 2009)
