MSU's Bell Named SEC Softball Freshman Of The Week
April 21, 2008 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. ? Mississippi State freshman outfielder Brittany Bell has been named the Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week for the week ending Apr. 20, the league office announced Monday.
Bell's accolade gives MSU the award for the second straight week and fourth time this season. Misty Flesher earned her second honor following last weekend's sweep at South Carolina, while Courtney Nesbit claimed the distinction Mar. 23.
Bell had a career weekend in MSU's series upset of 21st-ranked Georgia, hitting .625 (5-for-8) with a double, her first career home run, three RBI and four runs scored. She was also a perfect 2-for-2 on stolen bases.
The Brandon, Fla., was instrumental in State's series-clinching 7-4 win on Sunday, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Her lone RBI, a fourth-inning single up the middle, tied the game at four. She completed the MSU rally later that inning as she scored the eventual game-winning run on an Ali Bainbridge base hit.
"It's nice to see Brittany honored for her outstanding weekend," Bulldog head coach Jay Miller said. "She did an excellent job of hitting for power and average, and she caught everything hit her way defensively. Brittany's confidence has grown and she's really starting to relax at the plate, and as a result, she's playing the way we knew she was capable of playing."
Bell accounted for four of MSU's 10 runs in the series-opening victory over UGA, collecting a career-best three hits with two RBI and two runs scored. She sparked MState's three-run second inning as she led off the frame with a home run over the wall in center field. The next inning she hit a lead-off double and later scored on Courtney Bures' double. The Bulldog newcomer plated State's 10th run with her fourth-inning RBI single.
Bell's five-hit week improved her season average to .259 with three doubles, a home run, seven RBI and 22 runs scored. She is also a perfect 17-for-17 on the bases for a State squad that set the school's single-season stolen base record on Sunday.
State returns to the field Wednesday, hosting Southern Mississippi in the final non-conference match-up of the regular season. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at the MSU Softball Field. Admission to all MSU home softball games is free.
