McMichael Grabs Share Of National Player Of The Week Honors
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Just a day removed from capturing SEC Player of the Week honors for the second time in her career, Mississippi State centerfielder Iyhia McMichael grabbed a share of Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week honors Tuesday afternoon, the organization announced.
McMichael becomes the first player in the history of the Mississippi State softball program to garner such laurels. The honor follows a standout week for the Nacogdoches, Texas, native in which she hit .611 (11-for-18) with eight walks, seven runs scored, eight RBI and was a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen base attempts.
McMichael helped lead the Maroon and White to its first series sweep of the campaign against Kentucky on Saturday and Sunday, as well as its first home victory over LSU since April 3, 1998. The ?’Dogs salvaged its home series with the No. 11-ranked Tigers with a 6-2 victory in the series finale on Thursday evening.
She shares the award with current Texas and USA National Team pitcher Cat Osterman, who tied her career high for strikeouts in a game with 23 against Nebraska as the fifth-ranked Longhorns downed the Huskers 1-0 in 10 innings. It is the first tie for the distinguished national accolade since April 17, 2002, when Osterman and Fresno State?s Jamie Southern shared the honor. McMichael is currently on a 21-game hitting streak, and has stolen 32 consecutive bases for the Bulldogs. She leads Mississippi State in 11 offensive categories, including batting average (.458), triples (5), home runs (10) and RBI (41). She needs just three stolen bases to eclipse MSU?s career record currently held by four-time NFCA all-American Kellie Wilkerson.
The Mississippi State softball team (27-14), who continued to receive votes in each of the latest national polls Tuesday afternoon, will return to action on Thursday when the Bulldogs head to Madison to battle Southern Miss (15-19) in the featured game of the M&F Bank Fastpitch Classic. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Madison?s Liberty Park. Tickets for the event can be purchased at the gate or by calling the MSU Athletic Ticket Office at (662) 325-2600.