LOUISVILLE, Ky. –  Southeastern Oklahoma State’s Elexis Watson and St. Mary’s Staci Johns were named the Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the week, respectively. The duo earned the honor for their outstanding play for the week of March 12-18.

Watson posted an incredible, .938 on-base percentage, reaching base in 15 of her 16 plate appearances. The freshman first baseman was 6-for-7 (.857) at the plate with three home runs, seven RBI, four runs scored and a 2.286 slugging percentage. Watson was walked nine times, eight on four pitches, including a bases-loaded free pass to tie the game in the Great American Conference (GAC) series finale against Henderson State.

Watson’s game one performance against the Reddies set the tone for the rest of the four-game series. She was 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs, a career-best five RBI and two runs scored. After that, Watson did not see a pitch to hit in the nightcap. In game three, the GAC Player and Freshman of the Week homered for the third time in the series and also drove in another run in the series finale with the bases loaded walk.

Johns twirled three shutouts, including a two-hit complete game effort against thenNo. 4 Angelo State. She was 3-1 on the week, with a 0.67 ERA, 19 strikeouts, six walks in 27 innings of work. She scattered eight hits and held her opponents to a .096 batting average.

In her first start of the week, Johns fanned six Rambelles and walked two helping the Rattlers to a 3-0 win, which snapped Angelo State’s 23-game win streak. She also chipped in offensively with a solo home run. The Heartland Pitcher of the Week posted two-hit and one-hit shutouts in league play at Rogers State. She struck out five and four batters respectively to help St. Mary’s improve to 23-9 and 11-1 in conference games.

Top Performances

Mariah Jameyson, Texas A&M University-Commerce – .650, 13 H, 4 2B, 4 HR (grand slam), 18 RBI, 12 R, 1.450 SLG, .692 OBP; Shelby Uhl, Missouri Western– .533, 8 H, 2B, 3B, HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, 4-4 SB, hit for cycle against Wayne State College; Ashley Mickschl, Augustana– 4-1, 1.56 ERA, 36 K, .163 opp BA, .500, 19 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 11 R, 6-6 SB; Gabrielle Hess, Tiffin– .66, 6 2B, 3B, HR, 15 RBI, 7 R, 1.400 SLG; Taylor Wright, Northwood– 4-0, SV, 0.83 ERA, 49 K, 33 IP; Brooke Ford-Nelson, Southern Arkansas– 3-0, 0.41 ERA, 2 SHO, 18 K, 17 IP; Caitlyn Davis, Georgia College– .632, 12 H, 6 2B, 12 RBI, 9 R, .947 SLG; Hannah Thieroff, California Baptist– .478, 11 H, 5 HR, 14 RBI; Ciarra Stapp, California Baptist– 3-0, 0.33 ERA, 22 K, 21 IP, SHO; Hannah McClouinie, Wayne State University– .412, 14 H, 4 2B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .706 SLG, .432 OBP; Nikole Van Gennep, Eckerd– 2-0 vs. then-No. 9 Saint Leo, 2 CG, 0.93 ERA, 6 K; Kylee Smith, North Georgia– 5-0, 30 K, 26.2 IP; Megan Guitar, Wayne State University– 6-1, 1.75 ERA, 32 K, 40 IP, 2 SHO, .412, 3 2B, 10 RBI;