NORFOLK, Va., April 17, 2023 – South Carolina State sophomore Kayla Leslie has been named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Softball Player of the Week, presented by Coca-Cola, the league announced today. Maryland Eastern Shore's Katelyn Smitchko was named Rookie of the Week, and teammate Ameenah Ballenger was named the Pitcher of the Week.
 
Leslie (So., OF, Sunrise, Fla.) hit .714 with three runs, two RBIs and a double in the weekend series against Howard. She was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs, two RBIs and a double in the series finale win over the Bison.
 
Smitchko (Fr., 1B, Hillsborough, N.C.) batted .444 with four RBIs, one run, one triple and one home run in three games against Morgan State. In the first game of the series, she went 3-for-5 with three RBIs, a home run and a walk-off triple in the nine-inning win. In the nightcap of the doubleheader, Smithcko took the pitcher's circle and tossed a seven-inning complete game where she allowed just one earned run on three hits.
 
Ballenger (Jr., P, Landsdowne, Pa.) struck out a game-high 10 batters in the nine-inning win in Game 1 against Morgan State. She also tossed 4.1 innings in the series finale. At the plate in the series opener, Ballenger went 2-for-4 with a double, two walks, two stolen bases, one run and one RBI.
 
Other Top Performers
 
Brissa Alvarado (Coppin State) hit .462 with six runs, two runs, a double and a walk in five games last week.
 
Vanessa Carrizosa (Coppin State) went 3-0 for the week with a mid-week win over Howard and a doubleheader sweep of Delaware State.
 
Manaia Fonoti (Coppin State) was 2-for-4 with three runs and a homer in a win over Howard.
 
Carleen Murray (Howard) allowed three hits and struck out five in a complete-game win over South Carolina State.

Sidney Fletcher (Howard) hit her first home run of the season in the 5-0 win over South Carolina State.
 
Cam Andersen (Norfolk State) struck out 11 batters in 11.1 innings of work for the week.
 
Gabby Vaughan (Norfolk State) broke the NSU program record for doubles when she hit her 40th career double in a mid-week win over Hampton.
 
Zarria Smith (South Carolina State) tallied three strikeouts in relief to pick up the win against Howard on Sunday.
 
Jamaisha Prince (South Carolina State) had four putouts and one assist at catcher in the Howard series.

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