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Softball America Stars of the Week: Pickens, Gibson, Grant, Malott, Kerr, Riley

by:Softball America Staff•about 17 hours
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Softball America Stars of the Week

The Softball America staff will pick four (Yes, we broke the rules this week) student-athletes as our college softball players of the week following the latest slate of games. Our award system isn’t necessarily stat-based but rather players who left a lasting impact as we watched games from the previous week. Who changed the tune of their teams? Who made the headlines? Who might be the breakout star during the season?

Karlyn Pickens & McKenna Gibson, Tennessee

Pickens and Gibson led Tennessee to the series win over then-No. 1 Texas this past weekend. Pickens earned both wins, throwing two complete games, allowing two runs on 10 hits and striking out 20 batters over the series. Gibson homered in the Saturday contest and drove in three runs in the rubber match. She finished the weekend with five of the Lady Vols’ seven RBIs against the Longhorns.

Megan Grant, UTL, UCLA

Grant, who now leads the country with 22 home runs, crushed softballs all week long. She hit a home run in all four of UCLA’s wins with a pair of grand slams. Grant had a .667 batting average (6-for-9), five home runs, 11 RBIs and a 3.083 OPS.

Megan Grant joins Good Morning Softball America podcast

Sydney Malott, INF, Iowa State

Iowa State earned its first-ever ranked road series win after taking down Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Sydney Malott had plenty to do with it. She hit four home runs and drove in six runs across the series.

Jahni Kerr, OF, Florida State

Kerr’s recent surge didn’t stop in California. Florida State had an explosive week, going 4-0 against Saint Mary’s and Cal. Kerr had eight hits, three home runs and 10 RBIs for the Noles as they improved to 14-1 in ACC play.

Catelyn Riley, RHP, Alabama

Riley’s Monday effort was too good not to include her in our Stars of the Week. Riley threw 5.2 shutout innings in the series opener before Oklahoma made a comeback in the seventh against Jocelyn Briski. Patrick Murphy was going to let Riley go all the way as she threw 136 pitches in eight innings to secure the rubber match. She threw 13.2 innings in total, allowing one home run on a solo shot and striking out eight.

WATCH: Alabama head coach Patrick Murphy after Oklahoma series win

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Brady Vernon’s thoughts from Tennessee, Texas A&M, Texas & LSU

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