LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Anderson University senior Kayson Boatner was named the 2022 Division II Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week for her outstanding performance for contests played March 28 – April 3. This is Boatner's second Player of the Week honor of the season.
Over a four-game stretch, Boatner hit .769 with 10 hits, seven of which left the yard, 12 RBI, nine runs scored and a stellar 2.462 slugging percentage. Boatner clubbed five home runs in the doubleheader sweep over Tusculum, including a three-run shot while being intentionally walked. The native of Phenix City, Ala., capped off her incredible week by hitting a walk-off against conference opponent Newberry to help secure head coach Tommy Hewitt's 500 career win.
Boatner currently leads the South Atlantic Conference with 21 home runs and is three home runs shy of breaking the SAC's All-Time Season record of 23 total home runs and is five home runs away from breaking the SAC's All-Time Career record of 63. The senior first baseman also leads the SAC in RBI with 54 and ranks third in batting average with an impressive average of .448.
Anderson is currently 31-5 overall and 14-2 in SAC play. The Trojans leaped back into the top-25, after receiving votes last week, taking over the No. 21st spot.
The Black and Gold return to action on Saturday when they square off with SAC foe No. 25 Carson-Newman. First-pitch is slated or 1pm.
The Division II Player and Pitcher of the Week awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which consists of two head coaches from each of the NCAA'es eight regions. To be eligible, student-athletes must be nominated by their member head coach.
Selected Top Performances Paige Adair, Colorado Mesa – 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 SHO,16 K, 2 BB, .056 opp. BA, no-hitter vs New Mexico Highlands (7 K); Hannah Beatus, Grand Valley State – 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 17 K, 3 BB, 21 IP; Rae Flores, Concordia Irvine – 2-0, 2 R, ER, 12 K, 16 IP; Taylor Franco, Lubbock Christian – 3-0, 1.02 ERA, 22 K, 13 IP; Emma Frost, Lincoln Memorial – 2-0, SV, 0.00 ERA, SHO, 17 K, BB, 12 IP; Andrea Morales, Rogers State – 3-0, SV, 0.50 ERA, 36 K, BB, 3 SHO, 18 IP; Liz Pautz, Winona State – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 R, 20 K, 2 BB, 11 IP, perfect game vs. Sioux Falls (12 K, 5 IP); Megan Powell, Lees-McRae – 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 28 K, 7 H, 19 IP, two no-hitters vs. Barton (6 K, 5 IP) & Converse (14 K), hit two home runs, including grand slam; Aaliyah Brown, Oklahoma Christian - .571, 2 HR, 8 RBI, 1.00 SLG, .2 BB, .588 OBP; Audrey Burt, Metro State - .700, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, .769 OBP, 1.500 SLG; Aniston Gano, Valdosta State – .375, 3 HR, 4 RBI, 4 R, 1.500 SLG, .544 OBP, 2BB, HBP; Courtney Grundhause, Caldwell - .917, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI, 9 R, .929 OBP, 1.417 SLG; Chantelle Shimabukuro, Western Washington - .7-6, 12 H, 3 R, 3 2B, 3B, 7 RBI; Ellie Smith, Colorado Mesa – .500, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 1.300 SLG, 1.845 OPS.
