Ball State University Athletics
Softball Sweeps MAC West Division Weekly Awards
March 04, 2015 | Softball
CLEVELAND, Ohio - - For their play in the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by No. 7 LSU, Ball State softball junior second baseman Emily Dabkowski (Plainfield, Ind./South Putnam) and freshman pitcher Carolyn Wilmes (Evansville, Ind./Mater Dei) swept this week's Mid-American Conference Weekly Awards.
Dabkowski was named the MAC West Division Player of the Week for the first time in her career after batting .389 with three home runs last weekend. Wilmes was named the MAC West Division Pitcher of the Week for the first time in her career after picking up her first career victory over Stephen F. Austin.
“Emily is the backbone of our offense,” Ball State head coach Tyra Perry said. “She is the one you want at the plate when the game is on the line. Emily is a high-intensity player who will do anything to help the team.”
Dabkowski turned in a solid all-around performance at the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by No. 7 LSU, recording at least one hit in all five games, including three two-run home runs. She led the Cardinals with nine RBI in the tournament and also scored four runs.
In the Cardinals' loss to the seventh-ranked Tigers, Dabkowski hit her first two-run shot of the weekend deep over the left field wall to give Ball State a 3-0 edge at the time, which is the largest deficit the Tigers have faced this season on their way to a 21-0 record in which they have out-scored the opposition 165 to 27.
Dabkowski drove in what proved to be the game-winning run in the victory over Stephen F. Austin when she blasted her second two-run homer of the weekend with two outs in the fifth inning. Dabkowski has now provided the game-winning RBI in four of the Cardinals' 10 wins this season.
Dabkowski also smashed a two-run home run in the second meeting versus Northwestern State, while adding a sacrifice fly later in the game.
“Carolyn works hard every day to be her best on the mound,” Perry added. “She has a lot of upside and is fast becoming a pitcher we can depend on.”
Wilmes provided a pair of solid appearances in the circle for the Cardinals at the Purple & Gold Challenge hosted by No. 7 LSU. Wilmes first appearance of the weekend came versus the seventh-ranked Tigers in which she limited one of the nation's top offenses to just one hit and one run over 1.1 innings of work.
The following day, Wilmes picked up her first career victory in the circle for Ball State, by limiting Stephen F. Austin to just two hits and one unearned run over 5.2 innings of work.
The Ball State softball team is scheduled to return to action Friday at the Louisville Classic with games versus UMass (12:30 p.m.) and the host Cardinals (5 p.m.).
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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