ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – In the midst of one of the two busiest weeks of the season for the College of Saint Benedict softball team, Lizzy Walker picked a good time to have a career week.
Walker – who has served primarily as a pinch runner and pinch hitter throughout the season – got put into the starting lineup for Tuesday’s doubleheader against Macalester, and she made the most of the opportunity.
The senior outfielder had a double and a home run in the first game against the Scots, and hit a grand slam to help secure the Game 2 win and the sweep – and that was just her first series of the week. For her impressive performance at the plate in some key games, Walker earned both MIAC Player of the Week and CSB Athlete of the Week honors.
This is the first weekly MIAC honor of Walker’s career, and it marks the first time since 202 that two different players have earned MIAC Player of the Week in the same season. Gabby Spencer earned the honor on both Feb. 28 and April 11.
Heading into Tuesday, Walker had one career home run to her name and eight total RBIs in three seasons. Against the Scots alone she had two homers and finished the game with seven RBIs – thanks in large part to the grand slam over the left-center fence. That four-run shot pushed CSB’s lead to 9-3 in the second game to help secure that MIAC sweep. She finished the doubleheader 3-for-5 with seven RBIs.
After her outburst Tuesday, head coach Rachael Click left Walker in the starting lineup Thursday at St. Olaf and again Sunday at Hamline, and she came through. She added four more hits against the Oles – including a trio of doubles – and three hits Sunday at Hamline.
Walker finished the week hitting .526 after going 10-for-19 with four doubles, two home runs and an impressive nine RBIs. She also recorded an impressive slugging percentage of 1.053. She more than doubled her career RBI total as well as her home run and double totals.
Walker and her teammates are back for another busy week starting Tuesday, April 26, when they head to Arden Hills for a doubleheader at league-leading Bethel. CSB is at home Wednesday for a single game at 5 p.m. against St. Scholastica, then travels to St. Kate’s Friday and hosts Saint Mary’s Sunday.
