Following a record-breaking performance and consistent play last week, Illinois State senior Kate Stake was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Monday. Stake helped lead the Redbirds to a 5-1 record last week against Illinois, Loyola-Chicago and Bradley.
The second baseman from Buffalo Grove, Ill., had a career day against Loyola on March 17, moving into the NCAA Softball Records Book and setting an Illinois State record in the process. Stake hit a solo home run in each of her first three at bats against the Ramblers. Her three home runs tied for second all-time in the NCAA for home runs in a game. Stake also tied for No. 2 all-time in the NCAA for total bases in a game with 13. She finished the game four-for-four with four runs scored and three RBI.
Meanwhile, Stakes seven consecutive hits (from March 15-17) tied for No. 4 all-time in the NCAA Softball Records Book. She had hits in her final two at bats against Illinois, four hits against Loyola in game one and a hit in her first at bat of the second game.
In six games last week, Stake hit .647 with 11 hits including four extra-base hits, 21 total bases, six runs and a 1.235 slugging percentage. She is currently riding a six-game hitting streak.
Kate had an amazing week, ISU head coach
Melinda Fischer said. She had great production, key at bats, timely hits and defensively she was without an error. Obviously she was in a groove against Loyola. Shes done a lot for our program in her three-plus years here.
Stake has helped lead Illinois State (19-5, 3-0) to its best start since 1988, the second best start at ISU during Fischers tenure. The 1988 team started out 20-4, and went on to compete in the NCAA Tournament, finishing the season with a 39-12 record. No Illinois State team under Fischers direction has started out better than the 1988 squad.
The senior tri-captain, who has missed just one game in her four years at ISU, is trying to do this season what only two other Redbirds have done during Melinda Fischers tenure as head coach at Illinois State ... earn her fourth straight Missouri Valley Conference honor. Stake, a first team All-Valley pick in 2004, was named to the second team following her freshman and sophomore seasons. Heather Stella (1996-99) and Priscilla Welch (1994-97) are the only Redbirds to achieve four-straight all-conference honors under Fischers guidance.
Stake currently leads the team in runs (18), hits (29), home runs (4), RBI (21) and total bases (44). She also has the fewest strikeouts (4) of the regular Redbird starters, and has committed just one error this season.
