Horizon League Softball Release #9
April 7, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Wright State sophomore shortstop Kristen Bradshaw was selected Horizon League Softball Player of the Week and Cleveland State sophomore right-hander Amanda Macenko was named Pitcher of the Week for the second time in 2008 and the sixth time in her career. Bradshaw posted a .588 batting average in five games this past week while Macenko struck out 30 batters in five appearances.
Horizon League Player of the Week
Kristen Bradshaw, Wright State
So. * SS * Piqua, Ohio
Bradshaw picked up her first Player of the Week honor of her career as she guided the Raiders to a 4-1 record this past week. In five games, the WSU sophomore batted .588 with two home runs and 11 runs batted in. Bradshaw opened the week by going 3-for-6 with a double and three RBI in a doubleheader split against Ball State. She then closed out the week against Green Bay with seven hits, eight RBI and two home runs as the Raiders swept the Phoenix.
Horizon League Pitcher of the Week
Amanda Macenko, Cleveland State
So. * RHP * Brunswick, Ohio
Macenko picked up her sixth career Pitcher of the Week award after she helped the Vikings to a 3-2 mark this past week. In five appearances, the sophomore hurler work 30 innings, allowed two earned runs and posted a 2-2 record with a 0.47 earned run average. Macenko also earned a save, struck out 30 batters and walked just one. Opposing batters hit .188 against Macenko during the week. In her last nine appearances, the Ohio native has struck out 62 batters and walked just two.
Other Top Performances for the Week Ending April 6
Bridget Paine, Butler
So. * SS * Carol Stream, Ill.
Paine batted .500 on the week with eight hits, five runs scored and three RBI's. She had two hits in each of Butler's back-to-back wins at Bellarmine. Paine then added four more hits, including her first home run of the season, in Butler's three-game series at Cleveland State. She scored two of Butler's five runs at Cleveland State.
Nikki Naffziger, Butler
Sr. * RHP * Indinapolis, Ind.
Naffziger picked up two of Butler's three wins last week, including the Bulldogs' 2-0 victory at Cleveland State. She pitched all five innings, allowing just two hits and striking out a season-high nine batters, in Butler's 8-0 victory at Bellarmine. She then tossed five shutout innings in relief to earn Butler's win at Cleveland State. The Butler right-hander had 15 strikeouts and just one walk in 13 innings of work.
Danielle Young, Cleveland State
Jr. * OF * Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Young hit .389 (7-18) with two runs scored, a home run and five RBI in five games last week. She also went 1-for-2 in stolen bases. In the field, she made one error in seven chances.
Breana Sesoko, Detroit
Fr. * C * Anaheim Hills, Calif.
Sesoko went 5-for-7 with a double in twinbill against Youngstown State to raise her batting average to .381 on the season.
Jill Perry, Detroit
So. * LHP * Ortonville, Mich.
Perry took the loss in game two against Youngstown despite giving up just two runs on six hits (five singles) and no walks. The sophomore lefty struck out a career-high five batters.
Missy Schleicher, Green Bay
Jr. * C * Waupun, Wis.
Schleicher had a career-high six RBIs in the series finale against Wright State, going 2-for-3 with a grand slam and a two-run single. The Wisconsin native logged more than half of the team's RBIs on the week (8-of-14). She posted an .875 slugging percentage and batted .375 for the week.
Ellen Kresl, Loyola
So. * OF * Kankakee, Ill.
Kresl batted .455 (5-for-11) with a run scored, an RBI and a pair of stolen bases in four games last week. After going 1-for-3 against Northwestern, Kresl went 3-for-3 with a run and a pair of stolen bases in game one of a doubleheader at Valparaiso on Saturday. She followed that up with a hit and a RBI in the nightcap of that twinbill on Saturday. For the year, the leadoff hitter is batting .403 (31 for 77) with 14 runs, six RBI and 11 steals.
Amy Solava, Loyola
So. * RHP * New Lenox, Ill.
Solava, the 2007 Horizon League Pitcher of the Year, registered a five-hit shutout in Loyola's 1-0 victory at Valparaiso on Sunday. The right-hander fanned five Crusaders and did not issue a walk to help the Ramblers snap a three-game losing skid.
Sarah Clynes, UIC
Jr. * C * Florissant, Mo.
Clynes recorded a .474 batting average (9-for-19) in a 5-0 week in League action last week. The junior totaled seven runs, three doubles, nine RBI and two home runs. In the circle, Clynes recorded a 3-0 mark and fanned 16 batters in 19.0 innings of work. She also allowed just two runs and five earned runs in three games.
Shannon Robinson, Valparaiso
Sr. * C * Toronto, Ontario
Robinson drove in the game-winning run in a 2-1 victory over Loyola on Saturday. She also threw out 7-of-15 would-be base stealers on the week and has thrown out 42.5 percent (17-of-40) on the season.
Andrea Zappia, Valparaiso
Sr. * RHP * Indianapolis, Ind.
Zappia won the opener against Loyola and came back to earn a save in the nightcap of the doubleheader. The senior righthander has four saves on the season and 18 in her career. In addition, the Indiana native broke Valpo's career strikeouts record in the fourth inning of game against Loyola. Her current total of 104 strikeouts currently ranks fifth in a single season at Valpo all-time.
Jamie Perkins, Wright State
So. * LHP * Convoy, Ohio
Perkins struck out two in two innings of relief during the second game with Ball State. She fanned three in as many innings in appearing in both games of Green Bay doubleheader. Perkins earned the save against Green Bay in the series finale, throwing three scoreless innings with a strikeout.
Jamie Fornal, Youngstown State
Sr. * C * Rochester, Ind.
Fornal led the Penguins with a .500 batting average with five RBIs and an .800 slugging percentage in YSU's 3-4 record last week. Fornal hit safely in six of the seven games, including three multi-hit games.
News From Around the League
Butler
The Bulldogs (14-15 overall, 3-5 Horizon League) went 3-2 this past week.
Butler opened the week with a doubleheader sweep of Bellarmine (5-1 game one; 8-0 game two [five innings]).
Senior outfielder Jenny Jacobs, playing in just her seventh and eighth games this season, had five hits, two RBI's and three runs scored in Butler's doubleheader sweep against the Knights. Jacobs missed 18 games with an injury.
Junior outfielder Lindsay Schluge hit her first home run of the season, a three-run shot, in the first game versus Bellarmine.
Butler then closed out the week with 2-1 series loss to Cleveland State. BU won the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday 2-0 (nine innings), but dropped the second game 3-2. In the finale on Sunday, BU fell 6-1.
The Bulldogs' 2-0 shutout of CSU marked just the second time this season that the Vikings had been held scoreless.
BU returns to action on Monday as it visits crosstown rival IUPUI for a doubleheader. The Bulldogs then welcome Eastern Illinois for a doubleheader on Thursday. BU steps back into League play on Saturday as it opens a three-game series with Detroit, which concludes on Sunday.
Cleveland State
The Vikings (15-8 overall, 4-2 Horizon League) posted a 3-2 record this past week.
CSU began the week with a doubleheader split on the road against Robert Morris on Thursday. The Vikings dropped the first game 7-5, but rebounded in the second contest to claim a 7-6 victory in 10 innings.
On Saturday Cleveland State stepped back into League and split its doubleheader at home with Butler falling 2-0 (9 innings) in game one, but winning in game two 3-2.
Sophomore right-hander Amanda Macenko lead the way for CSU in the circle as she threw in 30 of the squads' 39 innings this past week. The Ohio native posted a 2-2 record and picked up a save against Robert Morris in Thursday's nightcap.
Junior infielder Amanda Houchin, a first team All-Horizon League choice last year, was hitting just .196 going into last week but broke out of her slump, going 6-for-17 (.353) for the week with four runs scored and three doubles.
The Vikings hit .299 as a team in the five games last week.
Junior catcher Haley Keller hit .400 (6-15), driving in five runs to share the team RBI lead (with Christa Coppus) with 17. Keller collected four RBI with a grand slam in game one against Robert Morris.
Cleveland State is outscoring its opponents 17-0 in the seventh inning and is 10-0 when leading after six innings.
The Vikings return to action on Tuesday when they faceoff in a doubleheader against Eastern Michigan. CSU steps back into League play on Thursday as it welcomes Detroit for a doubleheader. The Vikings finish out the week with a three-game series on the road against Green Bay beginning on Saturday.
Detroit
The Titans (6-15 overall, 1-5 Horizon League) dropped a pair of games to Youngstown State on Thursday.
UDM was scheduled to play in a doubleheader at Central Michigan, but the game was canceled because of poor weather conditions. Detroit has had six of its last nine games cancelled due to weather.
Freshman Ellen Sinclair has collected hits in her each of her last three games after she had her 13-game hitting streak snapped against Valparaiso on March 29.
As a team, UDM is batting .239 and holds a 4-0 record this season when leading after five innings.
Detroit embarks on its longest road trip of the season later this week as it plays nine consecutive games on the road.
The Titans begin the trip this week as they head to Cleveland State for a doubleheader on Thursday. UDM closes out the week with a three-game series with Butler beginning on Saturday.
Green Bay
The Phoenix (6-15 overall, 0-5 Horizon League) played in five road games last week and went 0-5, losing twice to UIC and three times Wright State.
Green Bay's last victory came against Cornell (3-2) on March 19. Since then, the Phoenix has had four of its last 10 scheduled games canceled, including its League opener against Valparaiso.
The Phoenix is currently in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, which is its longest of the season.
Green Bay has allowed 50 runs over its last five games (10.0 per game) after yielding 70 in its first 16 games (4.4 per game).
The Phoenix finally opens up its home season Thursday in a twinbill against Loyola. Green Bay's first 21 games all took place away from its home field.
Green Bay will then welcome Cleveland State on Saturday for a three-game series.
Loyola
The Ramblers (10-15 overall, 5-3 Horizon League) went 1-3 last week.
Loyola opened the week with a 9-1 loss on the road to Northwestern. The Ramblers then dropped both games of their doubleheader with Valparaiso on Saturday. LU then rebounded in the finale with a 1-0 victory over the Crusaders.
Sophomore right-hander Amy Solava struck out five Crusaders to shutout Valpo on Sunday.
Sophomore outfielder Ellen Kresl continued her hot hitting as she went 5-for-11 (.455) last week to raise her season average to a team-best .403 (31-for-77).
Kresl also has a team-high 11 stolen bases on the year. With seven stolen bases on the year, senior infielder Lindsay O'Gean has moved into sole possession of third place on Loyola's career list with 41 thefts.
After winning three games last season versus nationally ranked foes (Illinois State, Northwestern and DePaul), the Ramblers have not enjoyed the same success, posting an 0-5 record this spring against ranked opponents.
As a group, Loyola is batting .263 (fifth among League teams) and holds a 9-5 record this season when it scores first.
The Ramblers will play host to Northern Illinois on Tuesday before traveling to Green Bay on Thursday for a midweek twinbill.
UIC
The Flames (16-21 overall, 7-1 Horizon League) went 5-0 this past week and are in the midst of a six-game winning streak.
UIC opened the week by winning games against Green Bay. The Flames outscored the Phoenix 19-1 in the doubleheader. For the week, UIC outscored its opponent 48-7. For the week, the Flames had 12 players bat over .300 last week.
After stumbling of the gate with a 2-8 record, the Flames have won seven of their last 10 games.
As a team, UIC leads the League in doubles (56), total plate appearances (1,138), at bats (1,013) and walks (91). The Flames also rank in the League's top three in batting average (.283), slugging percentage (.388), on base percentage (.364), runs scored (148), hits (287), runs batted in (134), home runs (16).
The Flames also sport a 11-1 record when leading after six innings.
UIC returns to action on Wednesday against Notre Dame. The Flames will then head to crosstown rival DePaul on Thursday prior to a three-game weekend series with Valparaiso beginning Saturday at home.
Valparaiso
The Crusaders (19-12 overall, 4-2 Horizon League) went 2-3 this past week.
Valparaiso lost a pair of games at DePaul on Thursday before claiming a 2-1 series victory over Loyola.
The Crusaders defeated Loyola in the first game on Saturday (7-3) to give head coach Randy Schneider his 100th career win at Valpo and his 200th overall. Valpo completed the doubleheader sweep as it downed the Ramblers 2-1 in the second game.
Junior outfielder Karen Korb broke Valpo's single-season stolen-base record in nightcap Saturday as she swiped her League-leading 23rd bag on the season.
Korb also has a string of 32 straight steals without getting caught, just six shy of the NCAA's all-time top-20 in the category.The Crusaders have already surpassed the team single-season mark for stolen bases last weekend. Valpo has stolen 81 bases on the year.
The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday as they head to IPFW for a doubleheader. Valpo will then step back into League play this weekend with a three-game series against UIC beginning Saturday.
Wright State
The Raiders (16-16 overall, 5-2 Horizon League) closed out their 13-game homestand last week by winning the final four games, including a three-game sweep over Green Bay.
The series sweep of the Phoenix marks the first time that WSU has taken all three games in a weekend set from a Horizon League opponent since the League went to its current three-game format starting with the 2003 season.
With a two home run, six RBI performance in the twin bill split with Ball State on Wednesday senior catcher Jherica Williams set single-season school records for home runs (9) and RBI (43).
The Raiders banged out nine home runs in five games last week, including two each from sophomore outfielder Jamie Perkins, sophomore shortstop Kristen Bradshaw and Wiliams.
As a team the Raiders lead the League in nine offensive categories, including batting average (.323), home runs (37) and triples (17).
Wright State begins a stretch of playing 16 of its final 21 games on the road this week by traveling to Toledo on Tuesday followed by Youngstown State this weekend.
Youngstown State
The Penguins (5-18 overall, 2-6 Horizon League) went 3-4 last week.
YSU split a pair of games with Niagara (10-4 game one; 14-6 game two). The Penguins then took a pair of games from Detroit on Thursday before being swept by UIC.
Senior utility player McKenzie Bedra extended her career home run total to 28 after belting home runs against Niagara and Detroit. She also ranks third place on the all-time RBI list with 102. Bedra also needs two more round-trippers to move into second place all-time.
Junior catcher Kristen McDonnell moved into a tie for third place on career home run list with 17 after hitting her first of the season against Niagara.
Sophomore outfielder Kristin Bair continued her hot streak as she batted .348 (8-for-23) with two double and three runs scored. She also leads the Penguins with a .406 batting average.
This week, YSU meets Toledo in a twinbill on Wednesday before opening a three-game series with Wright State on Saturday.
