ST. LOUIS – The Illinois State softball team took two out three Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week awards Monday as Annie Heineman was named player of the week and Sarah Finck earned newcomer of the week.
Heineman has been a steady leadoff hitter for ISU all season long and this week was no different. The sophomore hit .550 over the course of seven games and finished the week 11-20. Two of her hits went from extra bases, including a home run against No. 8 Tennessee. From her leadoff spot she scored six runs and drove in four runs. Her .750 slugging percentage was tops on the team, as was her .609 on-base percentage. She was especially good in the Valley-opening series against UNI, going 7-10 with three runs and three RBIs. In the field, Heineman had a perfect fielding percentage.
Sarah Finck made four starts during the week and finished with a 3-1 record. She won games over Northern Iowa twice and defeated Louisville. Finck threw 27 2/3 innings and gave up 26 hits, seven earned runs and finished with a 2.28 earned run average. She struck out 23 batters while walking 11. Her win against Louisville in eight innings gave ISU a much-needed win against a power conference opponent and opponents batted just .232 against Finck this week.
The Redbirds have now won three player of the week awards this season. ISU will travel to Indiana State this weekend for a three-game series.
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