Monday, May 02, 2011

MACON, Ga. – The Atlantic Sun Player of the Week, Sara Stukes homered in the fifth inning against Kennesaw State giving Mercer a 1-0 win and securing the five seed in the upcoming Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship. UNF’s Cortney Radke set the program single-season record for strikeouts at 303 in two wins against Stetson, including a shutout, to earn her second Pitcher of the Week honor.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Sara Stukes, Mercer (SS – Jr. – Powder Springs, Ga. – Psychology)
• First Career A-Sun Player of the Week award
• Hit game-winning homer against Kennesaw State to secure Bears a spot in A-Sun Championship
• Homer came in game two and tied Stukes for team lead in home runs
• Added a hit and RBI in 2-1 victory in game one of the series
• Clinched Mercer’s fifth championship appearance in past six seasons and first since 2009

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Amanda Schmidt (3B, Jacksonville) – Knocked grand slam against Bethune-Cookman to help Dolphins to program record for wins
• Kaley Brosky (2B, UNF) – Went 6-for-7 against Stetson to lead Ospreys to series sweep

PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Cortney Radke, UNF (Fr. – New Port Richey, Fla. – Undecided)
• Second Career A-Sun Pitcher of the Week
• Claimed both wins against Stetson with two complete-game efforts
• Fanned 24 batters to become UNF record holder for strikeouts in a season with 303
• Hurled a shutout against Stetson while compiling a 0.50 ERA in the two games

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Sarah Sigrest (Jr., Jacksonville) – Earned 20th win to set the program single season record for wins
• Olivia Scarborough (Fr., Campbell) – Tossed a no-hitter against NC Central with nine strikeouts
• Kari Chambers (Sr., Mercer) – Threw a three-hit shutout against Kennesaw State to give Bears the No. 5 seed in A-Sun Championship
• Devon Schmidt (So., Belmont) – Helped Bruins to first win against Lipscomb since 2006 and first at Lady Bisons since 2005