Ball State University Athletics
Softball?s Gilbert Named MAC West Player of the Week
March 01, 2011 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - Freshman Jennifer Gilbert (McKinney, Texas/McKinney) has earned Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week honors, the first in her career, the league office announced Tuesday.
Gilbert earned a spot on the all-tournament team as the designated player. Playing in her second tournament with the Cardinals, she had a phenomenal weekend, going 10-for-19, batting .526, in addition to tallying five runs, 10 RBI, and two doubles and home runs against Tennessee State and Georgia State.
Versus Tennessee State, Gilbert recorded a .750 batting average and five RBI after going 3-for-4 to help lead Ball State's charge at the plate. In the fourth inning, she smacked a 2-RBI double to left center, in addition to closing the contest with a home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning, the first in her career with the Cardinals.
Sunday against Georgia State, Gilbert led Ball State's charge as she collected two hits in three appearances and her second career home run in two days with the Cardinals. Gilbert stood as a crucial link in helping the squad secure its two runs against the Panthers as she whacked a 2-RBI home run to right field in the top of the first inning to score senior shortstop Alicia Barkley (Oklahoma City, Okla./Putnam City).
Starting in all nine of Ball State's contests so far this season, Gilbert is batting at a .387 clip and has recorded a .645 slugging percentage, including her two doubles and two home runs, in addition to 11 RBI.
Ball State returns to action next weekend at the Under Armour Invitational in Clearwater, Fla. where the squad will face Arkansas, USF, Michigan, Villanova and East Tennessee State.
Head coach Craig Nicholson and the team open the home portion of the 2011 season in a doubleheader versus Dayton at the BSU Softball Complex, beginning at 3 p.m. on March 24.
