OGDEN, Utah (February 17, 2015) – Idaho State outfielder Kacie Burnett was named the Big Sky Softball Player of the Week, and Idaho State’s Sophie Slagle was named the Big Sky Softball Pitcher of the Week for games played from February 9 - February 16.
Burnett, a sophomore from Napa, Calif., hit .429 with six hits, six runs scored and five RBIs in five games at the Mardi Gras Classic. She went 2-for-3 with four runs and hit an inside-the-park grand slam to finish with five RBIs during a 16-0 rout over Mississippi Valley State on Saturday.
She was 2-for-3 with a pair of runs in Idaho State’s 6-0 win over MVSU on Friday. Burnett added a pair of hits and drew two of her four walks of the weekend in narrow losses to seventh-ranked Louisiana Lafayette. With her walk in Sunday’s loss to ULL, she has now reached base in 39 straight games dating back to last season.
The 2014 Big Sky Freshman of the Year and All-Conference First Team Selection also was 2-for-2 stealing bases, had a slugging percentage of .643 and an on base percentage of .556. Burnett is batting .481 on the season and leads the league with 13 hits and 11 runs scored. This is Burnett’s third career Player of the Week honor.
Sophie Slagle, a junior from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., made three appearances at the Mardi Gras Classic, posting a shutout over Mississippi Valley State and dropping a narrow loss to No. 7 Louisiana-Lafayette. She pitched 16.1 innings, struck out 12, allowed five runs, 12 hits and opponents only hit .207 off of her over the weekend.
The UC Riverside-transfer went the distance in earning her first win with the Bengals, striking out nine and allowing just three hits for a shutout 6-0 victory over MVSU on Friday. In a tough battle with ULL, she allowed seven hits and two earned runs, but dropped the decision as the Ragin Cajuns prevailed 3-0 on Saturday. Slagle made a relief appearance against ULL Sunday, and gave up two hits while striking out two in a 6-0 loss, moving the nationally-ranked Ragin Cajuns to 9-0 on the season.
Slagle is 1-3 on the season, having faced two top-10 opponents in No. 6 UCLA and No. 7 ULL, and has accumulated 15 strikeouts on the year.
Others Nominated:
Player: Lexie Brenneis – Montana; Aubrey Nitschelm – Portland State; Alexa Chattleton – Sacramento State; Malia Campos – Weber State
Pitcher: Celina Matthias – Sacramento State; Katie Greenberg – Southern Utah; Bailey Seek – Weber State