Central Arkansas’ Brown, Johnson Sweep Weekly Southland Softball Honors
FRISCO, Texas – Central Arkansas’ Mary Kate Brown and Jordan Johnson are the Southland Conference Softball Players of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. Southland weekly honors are presented by
Hercules Tires.
Brown and Johnson pushed the Bears (12-7) to a perfect 6-0 record last week, scoring 50 runs while allowing just two runs in total. Brown accounted for seven runs on eight hits in 13 at bats for a .615 batting average and a .688 on-base percentage. Six of her eight hits went for extra bases, including one home run in an 11-0 shutout of Western Michigan (March 6).
Johnson was lights out in the circle for the Bears, racking up a 2-0 record while limiting opponents to a .032 batting average over 10 innings of work. The Paola, Kan., native dealt 20 strikeouts in two appearances, including a career-high 11 in a perfect game against Mississippi Valley State (March 5). The awards mark the first of the season for the UCA duo.
The Bears return to the diamond Tuesday night in a historic game at home against Arkansas. Opening pitch against the Razorbacks is slated for 6 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Softball Hitter of the Week – Mary Kate Brown, Central Arkansas – R-Fr. – 2B – Atkins, Ark.
Brown led the Bears last week with a .615 average at the plate and was second on the team with seven RBIs. She led Central Arkansas with four doubles and did not strikeout once in her six appearances. She added a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage and scored seven runs throughout the week.
Honorable Mention: Caitlyn Brockway, Houston Baptist; Cori McCrary, McNeese; Alexis Perry, Northwestern State; Gaby Garcia, Stephen F. Austin; Pal Egan, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Jordan Johnson, Central Arkansas – R-So. – RHP – Paola, Kan.
Johnson delivered a perfect game against MVSU with a career-high 11 strikeouts in a 10-0 victory. She allowed just one hit against Western Michigan, while striking out nine batters in the 11-0 win. Johnson surrendered one base runner all weekend and did not walk a single batter.
Honorable Mention: Jenna Edwards, McNeese; Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin.
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on at least 25 percent of ballots.
2021 Southland Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 16 – Hitter: Ashlyn Reavis, Nicholls; Pitcher: Heather Zumo, Southeastern Louisiana
Feb. 23 – Hitter: Tylar Vernon, Central Arkansas; Pitcher: Kayla Beaver, Central Arkansas
March 2 – Hitter: Lindsey Rizzo, Southeastern Louisiana; Pitcher: Heather Rizzo, Southeastern Louisiana
March 9 – Hitter: Mary Kate Brown, Central Arkansas; Jordan Johnson, Central Arkansas