Ball State University Athletics
Audrey Bickel Named MAC West Player Of The Week
February 29, 2012 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - After leading the Ball State softball team with a .583 batting average at last weekend's Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial, sophomore third baseman Audrey Bickel (Munster, Ind./Andrean) has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week.
"Audrey swung the bat very well last weekend," said Ball State head coach Craig Nicholson. "She is very patient at the plate was able to produce when she got good pitches to hit. Her patience also shows up in her team-leading four walks last weekend which helped her post a .706 on-base percentage."
Bickel is the third BSU player to earn league honors this season, joining sophomore first baseman Taylor Rager (Fishers, Ind./Hamilton Southeastern) and senior pitcher Audrey Workman (Wickenburg, Ariz./Wickenburg) who were named MAC West Division Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, last week.
In helping guide the Cardinals to a 3-2 record at the Frost Classic, Bickel tallied seven hits in 12 at bats for a .583 batting average over the five games. She also drew four walks and was hit by a pitch to raise her on base percentage to .706.
Bickel's best game came versus Belmont when she tallied her second career home run, a three-run blast to left-center field to give BSU a 14-3 lead in the contest. She also added a RBI double, and finished the contest with four RBI and a run scored.
In the Cardinals' win over Cleveland State, Bickel pelted a pair of doubles, giving her three for the week. Of her seven base hits last week, four were multi-base knocks.
Over the course of the three-day tournament, Bickel also collected six RBI, three runs scored and posted a 1.083 slugging percentage.
For the year, Bickel ranks ninth in the Mid-American Conference with a .450 batting average. Her nine walks are the most in the league so far this year, while her four doubles tie for second among all MAC players. Her .613 on base percentage also leads the conference, while her .800 slugging percentage is third.
Bickel and the Ball State softball team return to action Friday, when they battle both South Alabama (10 a.m.) and Temple (2:30 p.m.) in the first day of the Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports at Walt Disney World Resort in Kissimmee, Fla.
