Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Merri Anne Patterson named MVC Player of the Week
03/23/2015 | 12:00:00 | Softball
ST. LOUIS - Southern Illinois sophomore softball player Merri Anne Patterson was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league announced Monday. Patterson hit two game-winning home runs in Southern's three-game sweep of defending MVC champions Wichita State over the weekend.
Patterson hit .462 in SIU's 4-0 week, which included an 8-3 win over Bradley last Monday to complete a three-game sweep of the Braves. She slugged 1.231 in the four games, going 6-for-13 with a double, three home runs, seven RBIs, five runs scored and a stolen base. In the series opener with WSU, Patterson hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth that was the difference in a 4-3 win. In the series finale, Patterson hit a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the seventh in a 7-6 win.
The Lynville, Tenn., native led a potent Saluki offense that scored 26 runs in the four-game week. Other notable SIU performances from the week include Kalyn Harker (9-for-15, a double, two RBIs, five runs scored and a stolen base), Brook Womack (7-for-12, two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, three runs scored, walk-off RBI single in game two) and Kelsey Gonzalez (5-for-12, one double, one RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base).
Southern Illinois is off to a 6-0 start to Missouri Valley Conference play after back-to-back series sweeps to open the league season. SIU is hitting .345 with 16 doubles, seven home runs and 38 runs scored in six Valley games.
Patterson is Southern's first MVC weekly honoree since Gonzalez (Player of the Week) and Shaye Harre (Newcomer of the Week) were honored after last year's Wichita series.
SIU heads to Murray State on Tuesday for a road mid-week matchup against the 16-10 Racers. This coming weekend, SIU starts a stretch of four road MVC series in five weekends with a trip to Cedar Falls, Iowa, to face Northern Iowa.
Congrats to @MerriPatterson of @SIU_Softball for being named MVC Player of the week! #GoDawgs
-- Saluki Compliance (@SIUCompliance) March 23, 2015
#MVCSoftball Weekly Release (March 23) > http://t.co/J1gaD44nCb pic.twitter.com/W6vsj84quT
-- Missouri Valley (@MVCsports) March 23, 2015
.@SIU_Softball is now 6-0 in #MVCSoftball play after a three-game sweep at home. pic.twitter.com/rmT5QHyQsS
-- Missouri Valley (@MVCsports) March 23, 2015
