Bringing you news and notes coming from the Missouri Valley in women's sports from both the athletic field and the classroom as soon as news breaks.

News and Notes From the Missouri Valley Softball Diamond

The MVC has two teams in the top 100 for RPI as of March 30th. Belmont is ranked 57th and SIU is behind in 86th, The MVC ranks 20th as a conference.

Individually, Maya Johnson (Belmont) ranks 1st nationally for strikeouts (206), 1st (10) for shutouts, and is tied for 1st (14) for complete games. Johnson ranks 3rd (0.67) and Paige Bedsworth (Drake) is tied for 22rd (1.55) for ERA. Sydney Kennedy (Bradley) ranks 6th (124.2) and Maya Johnson (Belmont) is tied for 12th (114.1) for innings pitched.

Kylee Sanders (UNI) is tied for 32nd (0.462) for batting average nationally.

Missouri State’s Mackenzie Chacon pitched a complete game shutout versus the Racers with three strikeouts in the Bears 4-0 win.

Bradley’s Ashley Breeding capped off a big weekend with hitting 5-for-9 with a home run, triple, and five RBIs on Saturday.

Illinois State’s Lexie Griffin hit a grand slam on Saturday during the first game of the double header while Ella Boyer hit another grand slam during the second game versus UIC.

Drake’s Ava Curry hit a walk-off sac fly to score win the Bulldogs the game on Saturday and series over Indiana State.

Evansville’s Jess Willsey went 4-for-9 with four hits, two RBI, and two runs scored on Friday’s doubleheader wins versus Valparaiso.

Murray State freshman Emmerson McKinnis delivered a walk-off single versus the Bears in the final game of the series.

SIU’s Emily Williams and Addi Baker hit back-to-back homeruns on back-to-back pitches versus Belmont in the opening game of the series.

Valparaiso freshman Madison Vrastil went 2-for-4 with one run and a walk-off RBI single in the seventh inning to complete a comeback in the final game of the series versus Evansville.

Indiana State’s Luci Kapelka homered in the eighth inning which scored the game winning run versus Drake in the opening game of the series.

Belmont’s Maya Johnson pitched a complete game shutout versus SIU with 13 strikeouts and zero walks.

UIC’s Alyssa McIntosh recorded her 100th career strikeout this past weekend.

UNI’s Kylee Sanders led the Panthers by going 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI in its win versus Bradley.

Player of the Week: Chloe Merced, Missouri State
Sr. | 1B/Outfielder | Springfield, Mo.
Helping the Missouri State to go 3-1 on the week Merced stat line read a batting average of .500 (5-for-10) with six RBI, four runs scored, two home runs, a double and a walk. While posting a slugging of 1.200 with a .545 on-base percentage. Merced tied her career high with two different three-RBI performances on the week.

Pitcher of the Week: Maya Johnson, Belmont
R-Jr. | Pitcher | Columbia Station, Ohio
Maya Johnson made it two consecutive week earning Pitcher of the Week honors. Johnson was 1-1 in the circle this weekend striking out 18. In her shutout win over Southern Illinois the Bruin hurler fanned 13, allowing two hits and no walks. Johnson has now eclipsed the 200 strikeout this year.

Freshman of the Week: Eliza Piggott, Evansville
Fr. | Catcher/Utility | Lake Forest, Ill.
Eliza Piggott batted .600 with a home run, five RBI, three walks, and two runs scored in the series at Valparaiso. She opened the weekend going 1-3 with a run and walk in game one. Next game Piggott went 2-3 game with two walks and two RBI as UE took game two. In Saturday's finale, Piggot went 3-4 with a home run, three RBI and a run. She finished the week with a 1.300 slugging percentage and a .692 on-base average.

Newcomer of the Week: McKenzie Newcomb, Southern Illinois
Sr. | Pitcher | Meridianville, Ala.
McKenzie Newcomb went 1-0 in two appearances against Belmont, posting a 0.00 ERA across 6.2 innings pitched. Newcomb allowed just two hits, no runs, two walks, and had four strikeouts against the Bruins. Belmont had a batting average of .091 vs. Newcomb in Nashville