After a monster weekend at No. 19 Georgia, Caroline Seitz became the second player in MSU history to earn SEC, NFCA and USA Softball honors in the same week.
Insane Weekend At The Plate Lands Seitz Numerous Honors
April 18, 2017 | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – After recording one of the most dominating weekends by a Bulldog in school history, Mississippi State's Caroline Seitz reeled in numerous national and conference weekly honors on Tuesday.
Seitz's day began by being named one of Fastpitch News' DI Players of the Week. She followed up by reeling in SEC Player of the Week, Louisville Slugger NFCA National Player of the Week and USA Softball Collegiate Co-Player of the Week honors. Seitz becomes just the second player in school history to receive the NFCA, USA Softball and SEC honors in the same week. Former MSU All-American Iyhia McMichael did the same in 2004.
The Birmingham, Ala., native becomes just the second player in Mississippi State history to earn the NFCA weekly honor, joining former MSU All-American Iyhia McMichael, who won the award twice in her career (April 1, 2003 and Feb. 25, 2004).
She is also the third player in program history to earn the USA Softball weekly honor. The last Bulldog to receive the award was current MSU director of operations Jessica Cooley (March 6, 2012). McMichael was the first in State's history to receive the honor, earning it on Feb. 24, 2004.
The MSU senior is the 18th Bulldog to receive the SEC's Player of the Week award and first since 2012. That year Ka'ili Smith (March 5) and Cooley (April 16) earned the award. The weekly conference laurel is the first for Seitz in her career. She is the first MSU player to earn any SEC weekly honor since teammate Alexis Silkwood pulled in two SEC Pitcher of the Week awards during the 2015 season.
"These are incredibly tough awards to win," MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "There are a lot of very good softball players in the country and in the SEC. Great things happen when you believe that in every opportunity there is a lesson. Caroline has been a soldier for us for four years and believes in opportunities. I could not be happier for her or our team."
"It really is an honor to receive these awards. Honestly it was kind of a surreal weekend. I catch myself kind of grinning when I think about it," Seitz said. "I am just glad I got to experience it with my teammates and help our team get the series win on the road. Our pitchers looked great as well and we are really coming together at the right time."
To say that Seitz had a monster weekend in Athens would be an understatement to most, as the senior finished the weekend 7-for-10 with 14 RBIs, four home runs (two grand slams), four runs scored, a scorching 1.900 slugging percentage and a .667 OBP. She became the first in school history to hit four home runs in an SEC weekend series and became the first Bulldog since Mackenzie Toler (May 2, 2015 at South Carolina) to hit two home runs in a game.
On top of her home runs, Seitz has also hit safely in seven-straight games, which set a new career high.
Seitz's home run-fest this past weekend spearheaded MSU's second-straight SEC series win of the year, as State took down South Carolina at home the weekend prior. It's the first time since 2015 that MSU has won multiple SEC series in a campaign, as that year the Dogs took down No. 19 Texas A&M at home and Arkansas on the road.
The weekend victory also marked the end of Georgia's run of five-straight series wins against MSU. The Maroon and White captured its first series win against UGA since April 19-20, 2008 in Starkville. It's also the first series win in Athens since April 21-22, 2007.
Game-By-Game Breakdown…
April 14, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 2-for-3, 1 R, 6 RBI, 1 HR (Grand Slam)
April 15, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 3-for-4, 1 R, 5 RBI, 1 HR (Grand Slam)
April 16, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
On Deck…
The Bulldogs return home to Nusz Park for a three-game series against Arkansas this weekend. The series begins Saturday, April 22 at 5 p.m. CT. All three games will be nationally televised on the SEC Network, with Mark Neely and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call.
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
Seitz's day began by being named one of Fastpitch News' DI Players of the Week. She followed up by reeling in SEC Player of the Week, Louisville Slugger NFCA National Player of the Week and USA Softball Collegiate Co-Player of the Week honors. Seitz becomes just the second player in school history to receive the NFCA, USA Softball and SEC honors in the same week. Former MSU All-American Iyhia McMichael did the same in 2004.
The Birmingham, Ala., native becomes just the second player in Mississippi State history to earn the NFCA weekly honor, joining former MSU All-American Iyhia McMichael, who won the award twice in her career (April 1, 2003 and Feb. 25, 2004).
She is also the third player in program history to earn the USA Softball weekly honor. The last Bulldog to receive the award was current MSU director of operations Jessica Cooley (March 6, 2012). McMichael was the first in State's history to receive the honor, earning it on Feb. 24, 2004.
The MSU senior is the 18th Bulldog to receive the SEC's Player of the Week award and first since 2012. That year Ka'ili Smith (March 5) and Cooley (April 16) earned the award. The weekly conference laurel is the first for Seitz in her career. She is the first MSU player to earn any SEC weekly honor since teammate Alexis Silkwood pulled in two SEC Pitcher of the Week awards during the 2015 season.
"These are incredibly tough awards to win," MSU head coach Vann Stuedeman said. "There are a lot of very good softball players in the country and in the SEC. Great things happen when you believe that in every opportunity there is a lesson. Caroline has been a soldier for us for four years and believes in opportunities. I could not be happier for her or our team."
"It really is an honor to receive these awards. Honestly it was kind of a surreal weekend. I catch myself kind of grinning when I think about it," Seitz said. "I am just glad I got to experience it with my teammates and help our team get the series win on the road. Our pitchers looked great as well and we are really coming together at the right time."
To say that Seitz had a monster weekend in Athens would be an understatement to most, as the senior finished the weekend 7-for-10 with 14 RBIs, four home runs (two grand slams), four runs scored, a scorching 1.900 slugging percentage and a .667 OBP. She became the first in school history to hit four home runs in an SEC weekend series and became the first Bulldog since Mackenzie Toler (May 2, 2015 at South Carolina) to hit two home runs in a game.
On top of her home runs, Seitz has also hit safely in seven-straight games, which set a new career high.
Seitz's home run-fest this past weekend spearheaded MSU's second-straight SEC series win of the year, as State took down South Carolina at home the weekend prior. It's the first time since 2015 that MSU has won multiple SEC series in a campaign, as that year the Dogs took down No. 19 Texas A&M at home and Arkansas on the road.
The weekend victory also marked the end of Georgia's run of five-straight series wins against MSU. The Maroon and White captured its first series win against UGA since April 19-20, 2008 in Starkville. It's also the first series win in Athens since April 21-22, 2007.
Game-By-Game Breakdown…
April 14, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 2-for-3, 1 R, 6 RBI, 1 HR (Grand Slam)
April 15, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 3-for-4, 1 R, 5 RBI, 1 HR (Grand Slam)
April 16, 2017 at No. 19 Georgia – 2-for-3, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2 HR
On Deck…
The Bulldogs return home to Nusz Park for a three-game series against Arkansas this weekend. The series begins Saturday, April 22 at 5 p.m. CT. All three games will be nationally televised on the SEC Network, with Mark Neely and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call.
Social Media…
For more on Mississippi State softball, follow the Bulldogs on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by searching for "HailStateSB." You can also find all-access coverage of the program on SnapChat by searching for "HailStateSnap".
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