Juniors Deliver Game-Winning Performances to Earn First #BIGEASTsb Weekly Awards
NEW YORK – Following a tournament-filled weekend for five of eight BIG EAST teams, Butler’s Sarah Dixon was named BIG EAST Softball Player of the Week and Creighton’s Bryana Clark earned Pitcher of the Week honors.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Sarah Dixon, Butler, Jr., OF
Guiding the Bulldogs to a 3-2 opening weekend mark at the Total Control Sports Invitational, Dixon started the season with a bang. Through the tournament’s five games, the junior recorded a .667 slugging percentage, a .500 batting average, nine hits, six runs and six RBI. Dixon’s efforts were essential in Butler’s 13-12 win over Miami (Ohio) as she posted a walk-off two-run double to clinch the victory.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Bryana Clark, Creighton, Jr.
Clark pitched a complete-game five-hitter against Saint Mary’s (Feb. 10) in a 2-1 Creighton win. The transfer from South Dakota State gave up one unearned run and had three strikeouts and four walks against the Gaels. She also tossed four innings of relief against San Jose State (Feb. 9) and allowed three hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking one. Overall, the junior finished the weekend with seven strikeouts in 13.0 innings pitched and a 2.15 ERA.
Weekly Honor Roll
Sera Stevens, Georgetown, Fr.
Guiding the Hoyas at the Felsburg Invitational, Stevens registered an .846 slugging percentage, five RBI and five hits including two homeruns. The rookie’s weekend was highlighted by home runs against Memphis and FIU.
Kaitlin Mattera, St. John’s, Fr., 1B/C
The St. John’s rookie shined in her collegiate debut, batting .667 (6-for-9) with a double and three RBI, including a pair of multi-hit performances against No. 6/6 Michigan and Illinois State. Against No. 4/3 Florida, Mattera came off the bench to deliver a pinch hit single in her first collegiate at-bat.
McKenzie Murray, St. John’s, Jr., P
Murray picked up the lone win for the Johnnies this weekend against Delaware. After getting off to a slow start against the Blue Hens, the junior settled down and posted blanks on the scoreboard from the fourth inning on as she tossed a complete game and allowed only one earned run to go with six strikeouts.
Kaitlyn Wilkens, St. John’s, Sr., C
Tied 2-2 in the sixth against Delaware, the senior came through clutch with a three-run homer to break the tie and propel St. John’s to its first victory of the season (8-2). In the final game of the USF-Wilson DeMarini, she went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate to match her career high for hits in the Red Storm’s close 2-1 extra-inning loss to Illinois State. For the weekend, she hit .400 and drove in four runs.