Missouri sophomores Nicole Hudson and Chelsea Thomas have been named Big 12 Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week for games of April 11-17. This is the first career honor for Hudson. For Thomas, it is her second consecutive accolade, fourth this season (3/8, 3/29 and 4/12) and fifth of her career.
Player of the Week
Nicole Hudson, Missouri, So., Outfielder, Webb City, Mo./Webb City
Hudson opened the week with a 3-for-4 day at Northern Iowa, belting her ninth home run of the year, a three-run shot, to tie her for the team lead. The Webb City, Mo.-native went 5-for-10 over the weekend against No. 14 Oklahoma and their ace Keilani Ricketts. On Saturday, Hudson doubled in the bottom of the fifth inning, driving in a run to give Missouri a 2-1 lead at the time. She connected on three hits in Sunday's marathon victory, including the walk-off game winner. With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, Hudson singled back up the middle which allowed Abby Vock to score, lifting Missouri to the sweep.
Pitcher of the Week
Chelsea Thomas, Missouri, So., Pleasantville, Iowa/Pleasantville
Thomas started the week by tossing the first four innings in Missouri's 7-2 win over Northern Iowa. Thomas allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits while striking out 10 and not walking a single batter. The sophomore pitched all nine innings in Saturday's dramatic 3-2 win over Oklahoma, scattering seven hits, once again allowing two runs - only one earned - and striking out a personal-best 17 while walking three. After throwing 161 pitches on Saturday, Thomas came back and threw (space) 163 on Sunday as she went all 11 innings in Mizzou's 1-0 extra-inning victory. She gave up only six hits, struck out 17 batters for the second straight day, walked just one batter and tossed her ninth shutout of the season. The 17 strikeouts are the second most in school history.
2011 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 15: Jessica Shults, Oklahoma, So., C
Feb. 22: Taylor Edwards, Nebraska, Fr. C
March 1: Logan Hall, Texas Tech, Jr. INF
March 8: Cydney Allen, Texas Tech, Jr., C
March 15: Sandy James, Texas Tech, So., INF
March 22: Dani Dobbs, Oklahoma, Sr., INF
March 29: Chelsea Garcia, Oklahoma State, Jr., INF
April 5: Lexy Bennett, Texas, Jr., INF
April 12: Amy Hooks, Texas, Sr., OF
April 19: Nicole Hudson, Missouri, So. OF
2011 BIG 12 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 15: Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma, So.
Feb. 22: Blaire Luna, Texas, So.
March 1: Kat Espinosa, Oklahoma State, So.
March 8: Chelsea Thomas, Missouri, So.
March 15: Whitney Canion, Baylor, So.
March 22: Blaire Luna, Texas, So.
March 29: Chelsea Thomas, Missouri, So.
April 5: Ashley Hagemann, Nebraska, Jr.
April 12: Blaire Luna, Texas, So.
Chelsea Thomas, Missouri, So.
April 19: Chelsea Thomas, Misouri, So.