March2015

Big offensive outing earns Michigan's Sierra Lawrence National Player of the Week honors

March 3, 2015

Oklahoma City, OK

Big offensive outing earns Michigan's Sierra Lawrence Week 4 USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week honors

 

OKLAHOMA CITY — University of Michigan junior outfielder Sierra Lawrence (Snellville, Ga.) headlined the Wolverine's offense this past weekend at the ASU Louisville Slugger Invitational in Tempe, Ariz. en route to earning her first-ever USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week accolades.  Hitting from the leadoff spot, Lawrence went yard five times over the weekend, including multiple home runs in two games, to lead to her team to a perfect 5-0 record.

 

"The past couple weeks, I've just been working really hard to get back to where I need to and just do my part," said Lawrence.  "It has a lot to do with improved confidence.  You get better with more at-bats and pitches, and as you start to do better, you start to build that confidence.  They really go together."

 

Heading into the weekend hitting .267, Lawrence nearly tripled her batting average after reaching base safely in each contest in Tempe.  Going 11-for-14 (.786) with a 2.00 slugging percentage, Lawrence racked up 11 RBI on the week thanks in large to five home runs and two doubles.  In the Wolverines first game of the weekend, Lawrence was perfect at the plate as she went 2-for-2 with four RBI as both hits came via the long ball.  The Georgia native was just as impressive in her first outing against then-No. 21 Arizona State, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and one home run to lead her team to a 7-5 win.

 

Lawrence's hot bat continued in a rematch against Toledo and Binghamton as she combined for a 3-for-4 outing with two RBI, three runs scored and one walk in the two contests.  In Michigan's final game of the tournament, Lawrence once again led her team to victory over the Sun Devils, matching her earlier performance with two home runs, three RBI and two runs scored.  With the wins, Lawrence helped her team jump to the No. 2 spot in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll this week.

 

"Sierra broke through and was lights outs," said Michigan Head Coach Carol Hutchins.  "She watched a film of herself from the fall because she just wasn't staying loaded.  She's such a student of the game and figured it right out.  Boy was she fantastic."

 

For the season, Lawrence in batting .390 (23-for-59) with five home runs, 20 RBI and 19 runs scored.  Through 19 games played, Lawrence is also boasting a .712 slugging percentage and .465 on-base percentage while leading the team with nine stolen bases.

 

This is the first USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week honors for Michigan, who now sets their sights on the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. where they will face three Top 25 ranked opponents, including the No. 1 Florida Gators.

 

2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 5-8): Taylor Schoblocher - North Texas - Junior - Utility – Forney, Texas

Week 2 (Feb. 9-15): Lauren Haeger - Florida - Senior - Pitcher/1B – Peoria, Ariz.

Week 3 (Feb. 16-22): Jenna Lilley - Oregon - Freshman - Infield - North Canton, Ohio

Week 4 (Feb. 23 - March 1): Sierra Lawrence - Michigan - Junior - Outfield - Snellville, Ga.

 

About ASA
The Amateur Softball Association, founded in 1933, is the National Governing Body of softball in the United States and a member of the United States Olympic Committee. The ASA has become one of the nation’s largest sports organizations and now sanctions competition in every state through a network of 74 local associations. The ASA has grown from a few hundred teams in the early days to over 165,000 teams today, representing a membership of more than 2.5 million. For more information on the ASA, visit http://www.asasoftball.com/.
 
About USA Softball
USA Softball is the brand created, operated and owned by the ASA that links the USA Men’s, Women’s, Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ National Team programs together. USA Softball is responsible for training, equipping and promoting these four National Teams to compete in international and domestic competitions. The USA Softball Women’s National Team is one of only two women’s sports involved in the Olympic movement to capture three consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games since 1996. The U.S. women have also won nine World Championship titles and have claimed eight World Cup of Softball titles. For more information about USA Softball, please visit http://www.usasoftball.com/.

 

About the NCAA Women’s College World Series
The ASA Hall of Fame Stadium serves as the home to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS). For the 25th year, the top eight college teams in the nation will head to Oklahoma City and complete for a National Championship title. Last year, nearly 70,000 fans attended the WCWS. Experience It Live May 28 to June 3 in Oklahoma City. Tickets for the 2015 NCAA WCWS are on sale now, click here to purchase your tickets and make a date with champions!

 

 

Codi Warren

 

Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications

Amateur Softball Association of America/USA Softball

Office 405.425.3431 | Cell 405. 420. 2817

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