Feb. 22, 2010
ST. LOUIS -
Illinois State senior first baseman Michelle Henderson sent two home runs over the left field fence to rally the Illinois State softball team in its 10-9 victory over No. 5/7 Arizona State Friday Feb. 19. Due to her stellar performance at the plate and by not committing an error in the field at the Littlewood Classic, Henderson earned her first-ever State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week honor, as announced by the league office Monday.
Henderson is the first Redbird to receive the award during the 2010 season.
"She is very deserving of this award," said head softball coach Melinda Fischer. "I have seen Michelle for the past few years now and this past weekend was probably her best performance of consistency at the plate. This weekend she came out and provided a lot more offense for us. She really jumped started us against Arizona State."
Henderson hit a three-run shot over the left field fence in the top of the third to give the ISU softball team its first win at the Littlewood Classic against Texas State, 10-4, Friday. The Normal, Ill., native led the Redbird offense with three hits and recorded five RBIs in the game, which set a career-high mark for the senior first baseman.
Henderson would continue her powerhouse performance at the plate Friday by hitting two more home runs against Arizona State. ISU got on the board in the top of the fifth with Henderson's first shot over the left field fence. The senior's third homer of the day came in the top of the seventh to start a five-run rally for the Redbirds, who would go on to defeat No. 5/7 ASU, 10-9, after nine innings. In the game against ASU, Henderson tallied two hits and drove in two runs. She also had 20 putouts over both games Friday.
"There is tremendous talent in the Valley and for Michelle to be singled out after her weekend of competition speaks very highly of her performance," said Fischer. "I think it is a prestigious award for her to be given."
Over the entire weekend, Henderson recorded 36 putouts and did not commit an error in the field. Over the four games, she had a batting average of .500 and a slugging percentage of 1.143.
Henderson and the Redbirds will return to action Friday when they compete at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Ga. ISU will take on North Carolina State (12:30 p.m. CST) and Auburn (3 p.m. CST) Friday afternoon.
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