Ball State University Athletics
Softball?s Cowger Earns Pair Of Weekly Awards
February 10, 2015 | Softball
MUNCIE, Ind. - - For her part in guiding the Ball State softball team to a 3-1 record at last weekend's Music City Classic, junior utility player Sammi Cowger (Fenton, Mich./Fenton) has been named both the Mid-American Conference West Division Pitcher of the Week and the College Sports Madness MAC Softball Player of the Week.
“I am excited Sammi has been named both the MAC West Division Pitcher of the Week and the Madness MAC Softball Player of the Week,” said Ball State head coach Tyra Perry. “She did a tremendous job of staying composed on the mound and rallying our team throughout the weekend. She is the type of player who will do anything to help her teammates. She is very deserving of both of these honors.”
Cowger, who earns both awards for the first time in her career, started all four games at first base for the Cardinals and also made an appearance in the circle in relief. She finished the weekend with a .308 (4-for-13) batting average, a team-high eight RBI, two runs scored, two walks and a pair of home runs from the batter's box, while picking up a win and posting a 0.00 ERA, a .095 opponent batting average and four strikeouts in the circle.
Cowger played a pivotal role in the Cardinals' come-from-behind win over IUPUI, starting at first base and moving to the circle for a relief appearance. In her first pitching outing of the season, and just the seventh of her career, Cowger held the Jaguars to just two hits over six innings of work. She retired the final 13 batters she faced, including shutting down the Jaguars in both the seventh and eighth innings as Ball State completed its comeback. She recorded a career-high four strikeouts in the game, while not issuing a single walk. She also helped her own cause at the plate, with a two-out, two-run single in the fifth inning to bring the Cardinals within one run.
Including her effort at the plate versus IUPUI, Cowger recorded one hit in each of Ball State's four games at the Music City Classic. In the season-opening win over South Dakota, she tallied the Cardinals' first hit of the season with a single to right center and also drew an RBI walk in the seventh inning during the team's two-out, six-run rally to tie the score.
She recorded her first home run of the season with a leadoff solo shot in the third inning versus Indiana State, and followed with her first career grand slam in the win over tournament host and 2014 NCAA Regional runner-up Lipscomb. The titanic blast versus the Lady Bison drove in what proved to be the game-winning run. She also drew a walk and scored a run later in the game versus Lipscomb.
Cowger and the Ball State softball team return to action Friday, when they opens play in the Tiger Invitational hosted by Auburn with games versus Georgia State (5:45 p.m. ET / 4:45 p.m. CT) and the host Tigers (8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT).
For the most up-to-date news on Ball State softball, follow the team on Twitter: @BallStateSB and @TyraPerry13 / Instagram: ballstatesb / Facebook: BallStateSoftball
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