Autumn Sydlik, Kassidy Wilbur Named Softball Players of the Week
FRISCO, Texas – Houston Baptist’s Autumn Sydlik and Stephen F. Austin’s Kassidy Wilbur are the Southland Conference Softball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Southland weekly honors are presented by
Hercules Tires.
Sydlik earns her first Hitter of the Week honor after pushing the Huskies (14-10, 7-8 SLC) to a series sweep over UIW last weekend with seven hits, six RBI and a pair of home runs. The sophomore delivered a .636 batting average, a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.182 slugging percentage throughout the series against the Cardinals and registered a career-high five RBI in the final game of the weekend. Houston Baptist hits the road for a matchup against Prairie View A&M Tuesday, April 13, at 3 p.m. CT.
Wilbur clinched her second Pitcher of the Week honor this season after pushing the Ladyjacks (24-8, 15-0 SLC) to a trio of wins over Texas A&M-Corpus Christi over the weekend, extending their win streak to 14 games. The junior dealt 24 strikeouts over 20 innings and stamped a pair of complete-game victories. She currently ranks first in the nation with 20 wins this season. SFA returns home for a three-game series against Northwestern State this weekend, beginning with a doubleheader Friday, April 16, at 5 p.m.
Softball Hitter of the Week – Autumn Sydlik, Houston Baptist – 3B – So. – Spring, Texas
Sydlik hit 7-for-11 on the week against UIW, including a career-high five RBI in game three of the series. The sophomore tabbed home runs in back-to-back at-bats for the Huskies in the third game against the Cardinals and finished the weekend with a .636 batting average. Sydlik currently ranks first in the Southland for RBI (23) and second in the league for home runs (6). Her performance over the weekend marked the second series in conference play in which she recorded multiple home runs.
Honorable Mention: Jaylee Engelkes, Central Arkansas; Ashlyn Reavis, Nicholls; Keely DuBois, Northwestern State; Kyndal Kutac, Sam Houston; Audrey Greely, Southeastern Louisiana.
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin – RHP – Jr. – Bridge City, Texas
Wilbur started and earned wins in all three victories over the Islanders last weekend, helping SFA set a new Division I program record for consecutive wins with 14. She posted a miniscule 1.35 earned run average (ERA) and .200 on-base average across 20 innings of work, allowing just three runs all weekend. She struck out 24 Islander batters and pitched two complete games, including a shutout in the opener. Wilbur’s 20 wins and 191 strikeouts both lead the league by a healthy margin, as does her ERA (1.07) and innings pitched (144).
Honorable Mention: Kayla Beaver, Central Arkansas; Lyndie Swanson, Houston Baptist; Heather Zumo, Southeastern Louisiana.
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; Pitcher: Jordan Johnson, Central Arkansas
March 16 – Hitter: Shaylon Govan, Stephen F. Austin; Pitcher: Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin
March 22 – Hitter: Jaylee Engelkes, Central Arkansas; Pitcher: E.C. Delafield, Northwestern State
March 29 – Hitter: Hayley Barbazon, Northwestern State; Pitcher: Ashley Trapp, UIW
April 5 – Hitter: Gaby Garcia, Stephen F. Austin; Pitcher: Kayla Beaver, Central Arkansas
April 12 – Hitter: Autumn Sydlik, Houston Baptist; Pitcher: Kassidy Wilbur, Stephen F. Austin