Wright State's Peterson and Cleveland State's Knight Collect Weekly Honors

INDIANAPOLIS –Wright State sophomore Becka Peterson (West Liberty, Ohio) is the Horizon League softball Player of the Week while Cleveland State junior Susan Knight (Milan, Ohio) is the Horizon League softball Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 23-29. This is the second weekly honor for Knight this season.

Wright State took on Big Ten-foe Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio for a mid-week doubleheader on Tuesday and fell to the Buckeyes in both contests. The squad bounced back on Saturday to defeat Valparaiso in the first game of the weekend doubleheader with an 11-9 victory. The Crusaders took the second game 9-7 while Sunday’s series-ending contest was cancelled due to weather.

Peterson posted high numbers for the Raiders beginning the week with a solo home run in the second game at Ohio State. Her momentum continued into conference play as the sophomore went 3-for-3 with a solo home run, three runs scored in the first game versus the Crusaders. In the second contest, Peterson was 2-for-2 at the plate with a two-run home run and four RBI. The sophomore hit for an average of .545 over the four game week while tallying a slugging percentage of 1.364 and an .667 on-base percentage. Peterson was also walked four times of her 15 appearances at the plate.

Cleveland State hosted Niagara on Wednesday and swept the Purple Eagles in the doubleheader. Each game lasted only five innings due to the run-rule with the Vikings claiming the first win 8-0 and the second 9-0 to notch the two-game shutout.

Knight pitched the first game of the doubleheader and tabbed a complete game victory for Cleveland State. The junior posted a 0.00 earned-run average while allowing just one hit and a .063 batting-against average. Knight fanned two Niagara batters and did not allow a walk in her five innings in the circle. In addition, only two Purple Eagles reached base with one off of the hit and the other on an error.

Wright State takes on Marshall tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. ET before hosting Dayton Wednesday, and Youngstown State over the weekend for a three-game conference series. Cleveland State is at Morehead State Tuesday for a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET and travels to Wisconsin to face Green Bay for a single-game Friday and doubleheader Saturday.

Top Players of the Week:
Kayla Kostich, Detroit (Sr.): Went 3-for-6 on the week with two home runes, two RBI and two stolen bases for the Titans. Hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for an 8-7 victory over Eastern Michigan.
Sierra Pico, Valparaiso (Jr.): Recorded her first-career four-hit game in the first contest against Wright State with a run scored and stolen base. Went 2-for-3 in the second game with two runs scored and a pair of doubles to finished with a .857 series batting average.
Eleni Polites, UIC (Sr.): Tallied a batting average of .600 in the doubleheader versus IUPUI to lead UIC. Went 3-for-5 at the plate while notching two RBI and three sacrifice hits.
Cynthia Woodard, Cleveland State (Sr.): Hit .857 with three runs, two doubles, a home run and five RBI in the doubleheader sweep over Niagara. Posted a slugging percentage of 1.571 and was 4-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the game two win.

Players of the Week
Feb. 2: Nena Doran, Cleveland State
Feb. 9: Nena Doran, Cleveland State
Feb. 16: Jorgi Calombaris, Valparaiso
Feb. 23: Sarah Hartley, Oakland
March 1: Nena Doran, Cleveland State
March 9: Eleni Polites, UIC
March 16: Angie Clark, Wright State
March 23: Becka Peterson, Wright State

Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 2: Karissa Frazier, UIC
Feb. 9: Alex Radjen, Cleveland State
Feb. 16: Karissa Frazier, UIC
Feb. 23: Susan Knight, Cleveland State
March 9: Bridget Boyle, UIC
March 16: Erin Kownacki, Oakland
March 23: Susan Knight, Cleveland State