Nicole Shano Named GAC Player of the Week

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – The Great American Conference introduced the Softball award winners for the opening week of the 2023 season. Harding’s Nicole Shano and Southern Arkansas’ Alyssa Miller shared Player of the Week; Arkansas Tech’s Bailey Buffington and Oklahoma Baptist’s Kayleigh Jones repeated as the Co-Pitchers of the Week.

#theGAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Nicole Shano, Harding, INF, Sr., Peoria, Arizona

Shano collected a multi-hit sport in all 4 of the Lady Bisons’ video games at the Alvy Early Classic. After going 2-for-3 with a double in opposition to No. 1 Rogers State, she reached base 5 instances in an 8-7 win in opposition to Missouri Southern. In Sunday’s contests in opposition to Central Missouri and Pittsburg State, she homered thrice. For the week, she registered a .706 on-base share.

#theGAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK – Alyssa Miller, Southern Arkansas, LF, Jr., Magnolia, Texas

Miller continued her torrid begin as she hit .700 in 4 Muleriders victories. She scored 5 runs and drove in 4. On Friday, in opposition to Truman State and William Jewell, she went 6-for-6 with a triple. She has began her season 18-for-24 at the plate and SAU has opened 9-0 for the first time since 2016.

#theGAC SOFTBALL CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Bailey Buffington, Arkansas Tech, RHP, Sr., Benton, Arkansas

Buffington prolonged her streak of not permitting an earned run to 34.2 innings after she tossed 13.0 scoreless innings final week. On Saturday, She threw a 5.0-inning no-hitter in opposition to Drury. Against No. 22 Washburn, she produced a four-hit shutout in a 1-0 eight-inning win. She held the Panthers and Ichabods to a .095 batting common in opposition to.

#theGAC SOFTBALL CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Kayleigh Jones, Oklahoma Baptist, RHP, Sr., Claremore, Oklahoma

Jones collected three wins as the Bison improved to 8-1. She struck out 34 gamers, in opposition to solely 4 walks, in 18.1 innings pitched. She didn’t enable an earned run. She notched two double-digit strikeout performances. She leads Division II with 64 strikeouts and as does her 12.0 strikeouts per seven innings – amongst pitchers with no less than 20 innings pitched.

OTHERS NOMINATED

Emily Adler, INF (Oklahoma Baptist), Makenzie Goins, 1B (Arkansas Tech), Erin Williams, C (Ouachita Baptist) Kaylee Barkley, RHP (Southwestern Oklahoma State), Tuesday Melton, RHP (Ouachita Baptist), Sydney Ward, RHP (Southern Arkansas)