West Texas A&M’s Hardin, Ouachita Baptist’s Butler earn 2018 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II weekly honors

LOUISVILLE, Ky. –  West Texas A&M’s Ashley Hardin hit five home runs and Ouachita Baptist’s Marissa Butler was unhittable, which earned them Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the week recognition. The duo earned the honor for their outstanding play for the week of April 9-15.

Hardin, a native of Flower Mound, Texas, was 5-for-12 with all five of her hits leaving the yard and nine RBI. She scored seven runs, slugged 1.667, walked five times and recorded a .600 on-base percentage. She helped the 11^th-ranked Lady Buffs collect four wins last week, including a series-clinching victory over then-No. 7 Texas A&M University-Commerce. She hit a two-run homer in the 5-2 win over the Lions. The Lone Star Player of the Week also homered in each win over league foe Cameron, including a two-homer, three-RBI, three-run, performance in game two. Additionally, Hardin became the LSC’s new career RBI leader with 247 and now ranks fourth in NCAA Division II history with 76 home runs.

Butler twirled a pair of no-hitters, including a perfect game last week. The junior hurler first gem was the first no-hitter in the Great American Conference this season. She led the Tigers to a 2-0 win over Northwestern Oklahoma, fanning five and walking one. The GAC Pitcher of the Week, capped off her stellar weekend with a perfect game against the Rangers. Butler fanned five in the 5-0 triumph.

Top Performances

Brooke Goad, Southern Arkansas- .714, 5 H, HR, 9 BB, 4 RBI, 5 R, Broke NCAA DII career record for home runs (80) and tied the DII career walk record (179); Kinsie Hebler, Texas A&M-Commerce– .786, 11 H, 5 HR (grand slam), 19 RBI, 7 R, 1.857 SLG, .786 OBP; Marisa Monasseri, Caldwell– .409, 9 H, 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 6 R, 1.000 SLG, .481 OBP; Morgan Perry, Saint Anselm– 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 SHO, 12 K, 6 H, 19 IP, .095 opp BA; KK Lopez-Liu, Lubbock Christian– .556, 5 H, 4 HR, 11 RBI, 5 R; Jayden Chestnut, Central Oklahoma– 2-0, 0.50 ERA, 2 CG, 15 K, 5 BB, 14 IP, no-hitter vs. Northeastern State; Taylor Daniels, Dominican (N.Y.)– .556, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 6 R, 1.333 SLG; Erica Davis, Winston-Salem State– .571, 4 H, 3B, HR, 8 RBI, 3 R, 1.286 SLG, .625 OBP; Allison Luzzi, Bridgeport– .533, 16 H, 4 2B, 3B, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 12 R, 1.133 SLG; Katie Humhej, LIU Post– 3-0, 0.86 ERA, 15 K, 2 SHO, 21 IP; Kayla Gee, Lock Haven– 3-0, 0.82 ERA, 3 H, 20 K, 4 BB, 0.56 opp BA, 17 IP; Bri Garber, West Chester– .650, 13 H, 2 2B, 9 RBI, 8 R; Chelsea Rohan, Seton Hill– .500, 8 H, 2 HR (grand slam), 9 RBI 3 R; Brandy Marlett, Angelo State– 2-0, 2 SHO, 1 H, 15 K, 1 BB, 0.30 opp BA, 11 IP; Anna Williams, Northwest Nazarene– .545, 6 H, 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 5 R; Alexa Flores, Davenport– .450, 4 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, 1.100 SLG; Allison Lipovsky, Grand Valley State– 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 39 K, 5 H; Callie Nunes, Concordia Irvine- 5-0, SV, 0.53 ERA, no-hitter vs. Holy Names; Christa Reisinger, Truman State– .615, 8 H, 3 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 1.308 SLG, .667 OBP, 3 SB; Jennifer Leonhardt, Southern Indiana– 3-0, 1.02 ERA, 19 K, 13.2 IP, .163 opp BA;