D1Softball Weekly Awards: McKinney, Kniesche and Courtney
Top StoriesPlayer of the Week Sydney McKinney, Wichita State
The nation’s leading hitter went 9-for-13 with nine RBI and nine runs scored over four games. McKinney reached base in 13 of 17 chances with a triple, home run, four walks and a pair of stolen bases. In Wichita State’s upset of Oklahoma State, McKinney was 2-for-4 with an RBI. To open the Memphis series, she was 2-for-3 with a triple, two walks, four runs and four RBI. After a 2-for-2 afternoon in Friday’s win, McKinney recorded a three-hit game, including a home run, two RBI and three runs in the series finale.
Pitcher of the Week: Tori Kniesche, South Dakota State
Kniesche threw 27.2 innings, allowing 8 hits and no earned runs while striking out 43, including an 18-strikeout performance. The junior pitched in all three games against Omaha, including two starts, and recorded all three wins. Her two starts resulted in complete-game shutouts that went extra innings. In the first game of the series, Kniesche threw eight innings, giving up two hits and striking out 18 while walking two batters. In the series finale, Kniesche pitched a school-record 14 innings, giving up six hits, striking out 15 and walking five in the 1-0 win.
Freshman of the Week: Autumn Courtney, Queens University
Courtney went 4-0 last week, throwing 24 innings and allowing 13 hits and three earned runs. She recorded two wins, including a shutout, in a weekend series against Lipscomb. In a 10-inning win, Courtney allowed six hits and one run while striking out 11. The following day, she threw a complete-game shutout and gave up only three hits.