Monday, February 15, 2010

MACON, Ga. – Jacksonville’s Amanda Schmidt claimed A-Sun Softball Player of the Week accolades after leading the Dolphins to a perfect mark at the JU Tournament, while Stetson’s Amanda Lindsey earned A-Sun Softball Pitcher of the Week honors after pitching 14 innings without allowing an earned run at the Stetson Leadoff Classic this past weekend.

Schmidt batted .357 (5-15) with seven RBI, five runs scored and two home runs to help lead Jacksonville to a perfect 4-0 mark at the JU Tournament over the weekend. The Pembroke Pines, Fla. native went 3-for-4 with three RBIs in JU’s 11-7 win against Virginia Tech on Saturday, while notching a pair of two-run homers and scoring a team-best four times in the win against UNC Greensboro on Sunday. With the two jacks, Schmidt became the first Dolphin to record multiple home runs during a single game in program history.

Lindsey went 1-1 with a perfect 0.00 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 14 innings at the Stetson Leadoff Classic this past weekend, tossing a three-hit shutout with eight strikeouts in a 5-0 win against Missouri State on Sunday. The Byhalia, Miss. native also hit a two-run homer in that game; her 15th career longball, moving Lindsey into a tie for sixth on the Stetson career home run list.

Fans can follow the Atlantic Sun on Twitter and on Facebook. Visit twitter.com/AtlanticSun to begin receiving updates on conference news, weekly awards, and from A-Sun championships. Atlantic Sun followers with a Facebook account can become a "fan" of the conference by visiting facebook.com/AtlanticSunConference.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers
Jenna Closner, Kennesaw State (Sr. - C - Rescue, Calif.) – Closner hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning to break a 0-0 tie in the second game of a doubleheader against South Dakota State Sunday to spark the Owls to a 3-0 win. In the first game, a 5-1 Owls victory, the Rescue, Calif. native went 1-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Closner also played as the catcher during both games, helping the pitchers to allow just one run over two games.

Devyn Findley, UNF (Sr. - P - Alachua, Fla. - Community Health/Exercise Science) – In game three of the Combat Classic, Findley picked up the win for UNF, as the Ospreys beat Providence, 4-0. The senior pitcher recorded 14 strikeouts, only four hits allowed and seven shutout innings. Findley also went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk at the plate to solidify her win.

Christina Melton, Campbell (So. - P - Charlotte, N.C. - Undeclared) – Melton led Campbell to its first victory on the season in throwing the fourth shutout and fifth complete game of her career. The sophomore pitcher threw a one-hitter and didn't allow a base runner until two were retired in the fourth innings. Melton only allowed two base runners on the afternoon in recording the shutout. As a hitter, the Charlotte, N.C. native had a hit, walked and scored a run.

Kellie Sirus, Lipscomb (Sr. - 1B/3B - Sarasota, Fla. - Nursing/Psychology) – Sirus hit a two-run home run to help Lipscomb beat Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Saturday in the Mardi Gras Invitational in Mobile, Ala. The Lady Bisons finished 2-1, also winning against Western Kentucky and losing to host South Alabama

Lauran Stephan, Campbell (Jr. - DP - Phoenix, Ariz. - Public Relations) – Stephan aided Campbell to a 1-1 record on the week. After just pinch hitting in the first game against UNCW, the junior started as the DP on the second game and had three of Campbell's five hits including a double and home run. In the sixth inning, Stephan brought the Camels to within a run with her home run. The home run marked her first of the season and the team's first blast of the year. The home run also tallied the eighth in the career of the Phoenix, Ariz. native.