Horizon League Softball Players of the Week (Feb. 20)

INDIANAPOLIS- Valparaiso's Sam Stewart has been selected as the Player of the Week and Oakland's Erin Kownacki has been named Horizon League Pitcher of the Week, respectively.

Sam Stewart / Valparaiso / Senior / Catcher / Frankfort, Ill.

Stewart carried the momentum from last year's conference tournament into the 2017 season hitting four home runs in as many games. The senior scored a run in the Crusaders opener on Friday to help take down North Carolina A&T. The middle two games in Valparaiso's four game stretch was when Stewart shined. Entering the season, the catcher had never hit two home runs in a single game. Stewart smashed two home runs in each of their games versus UMBC and North Carolina A&T (Game 2). The Frankfort, Ill. native scored seven runs on the weekend and batted in six runners to help Valparaiso start off undefeated on the year.

Erin Kownacki / Oakland / Senior / Pitcher / Armada, Mich.

Kownacki didn't miss a beat returning to the mound for Oakland throwing two complete games for the Golden Grizzlies. The senior threw seven scoreless innings allowing just three hits as Oakland won 1-0 against Boston University. Three games later, Kownacki allowed just one run while striking out four hitters to help skirt past Massachusetts by the score of 2-1. The pitcher is now 2-0 on the young season and Oakland is off to its best start in program history with a 4-1 mark.

Previous player of the week recipients:

Kayla Wedl, UIC

Previous pitcher of the week recipients:

Elaine Heflin, UIC