Every coach knows who they DON'T want stepping out of the opposing dugout when the game is on the line or runners are on base. We've looked over the D2 Softball stat-sheet now that the March schedule is winding down, and found the hitters that are producing the most when they step in the box. Take a look for yourself, and make your pick for D2 Softball's biggest threat at the plate.
Polls close at noon, Pacific on Tuesday, April 4.
(Note: stats and rankings through games on 3/26/17)
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Maddie Dow — Sr., Southern Arkansas
15 HR (1st)
46 RBI (T3rd)
1.011 Slugging (4th)
Mulerider senior slugger Maddie Dow (pictured above) leads the nation with 15 home runs and ranks third with 46 runs batted in — her 1.087 slugging percentage ranks second.
"Maddie is your prototypical power hitter, she is a home run hitter that drives in runs," said Mulerider head coach Jason Anderson. "She also is one of the all time career leaders in walks at the D2 level, so she too has a great eye, and will get hit by a pitch. She is a very confident hitter at all times and is clutch for us. Her ability to get on base and hit home runs make her a huge asset at the top of our line up as well. Maddie will be one of the best power hitters to every play D2 when her career is over, and it makes it very easy on a coach when you can pencil her in a lineup and know what kind of production you are going to get."
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Serena Olson — So., Missouri-St. Louis
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Missouri-St. Louis' Serena Olson. (Photo: Missouri-St. Louis Athletics)[/credit]
11 HR (T6th)
.857 Slugging (T14th)
34 RBI (T33rd)
Serena Olson blasted three home runs during the opening weekend of Great Lakes Valley Conference play for Missouri-St. Louis, and has since brought her sophomore season total to 11. Olson has also delivered 34 runs batted, which currently ranks second in the GLVC.
"As all coaches do, we are constantly discussing lineups and what order gives us the best chance to maximize our strengths," said MSL head coach Amanda Scott. "Serena is swinging it well right now, so it’s a combination of keeping her fresh and effective, while also building up the lineup around her. We want runners on when she comes up and we want strength behind her. Offense can be contagious and her energy is great in the box!"
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Mariah Jameyson — Jr., Texas A&M-Commerce
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Texas A&M Commerce slugger Mariah Jameyson. (Photo: Texas A&M Commerce Athletics)[/credit]
48 RBI (2nd)
10 HR (T11th)
.835 Slugging (18th)
Ranking second in the powerful Lone Star Conference in both home runs (10) and runs batted in (48), Texas A&M Commerce slugger leads the LSC with 91 total bases – a total ranking fourth in D2.
"We have used her in the 3 and 4 hole with the philosophy of always protecting her with one of our best hitters available behind her," said Texas A&M Commerce head coach Richie Bruister. "Recently we moved her to the cleanup spot when we added 2 speedsters at leadoff and 2nd with around .500 on base percentages. It has obviously been a team effort but one thing has remained constant…put Mariah in the best spot to drive in the most runs and she has certainly delivered!"
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Paige Gann — Jr., Northeastern State
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Paige Gann at the plate for Northeastern State slugger Paige Gann. (Northeastern State Athletics)[/credit]
11 HR (T6th)
.780 Slugging (38th)
34 RBI (T33rd)
Named Fastpitch News' NCAA Division II Player of the Week earlier this month, Northeastern State's Paige Gann drilled five home runs during the week, which included a three-game homer streak. In Northeastern State's 33 games she has 11 home runs and is tied for third in all of D2. Her 34 runs batted in is tops in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
"Paige's success has had a massive influence on our game preparation," said NSU head coach Clay Davis. "We have had to make sure our 3 and 5 hole have an exact idea of what their plan at the plate is cause they are getting so many more opportunities as people start to pitch around Paige. We talk a lot about others have to find a way on so we force teams hands and make them pitch to Paige. The really cool thing about our team is as Paige has success it drives our team to try and match what she is doing at the plate."
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Brooke Goad — Jr., Southern Arkansas
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Junior Brooke Goad steps to the plate for Southern Arkansas. (Photo: SAU Athletics)[/credit]
1.024 Slugging (3rd)
11 HR (T6th)
30 RBI (T59th)
Southern Arkansas junior outfielder Brooke Goad was recently named the Great American Conference Player of the Week, earning her first weekly conference award of the season and second in her career while also becoming the fourth different Lady Mulerider to achieve the honor.
With 11 home runs she currently ranks in a tie for sixth in all of D2, while her 1.024 slugging percentage ranks 4th.
Goad aggravated a recurring injury at the end of the week, and rested this past weekend. The week before however, she was outstanding at the plate as the redshirt junior hit .714 (5-for-7), with all five hits going for extra bases before leaving the top of the 4th inning of game two on Friday.
"Brooke is not only a power hitter, but she is also has a very good eye and is a great base runner, with this in mind she is a valuable lead off batter." said Mulerider coach Jason Anderson. "Her average, power, and on base percentage all make her a very tough out and she can do a lot of things to create some offense at the top of the lineup. Her success at the plate is due to these factors, and she makes it very easy to pencil her in the lineup."
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Jessica Gonzalez — So., Dixie State
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Dixie State sophomore Jessica Gonzalez. (Photo: Stan Plewe/Dixie State Athletics)[/credit]
10 HR (T11th)
34 RBI (33rd)
.771 Slugging (46th)
Dixie State catcher Jessica Gonzalez got the Trailblazers off to a 6-1 start to open the season and was tabbed the Pacific West Conference co-Player of the Week for the first week of the season.
The sophomore got off to a .500 (8-16) start, with four home runs, six extra-base hits, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored, eight walks, and a 1.438 slugging percentage after just a week in the books. Since then, Gonzalez has added six round-trippers to her stat-sheet, and her 34 runs batted in ranks third in the PacWest.
"The impact that Jessica has had in our line up has been tremendous." said DSU head coach Randy Simpkins. "When she is locked in at the plate, she doesn't miss very many good pitches. Her power numbers are very good and she's becoming a more complete hitter every day…taking walks as well as hitting the ball to all fields, with power. Her impact has also been felt on the hitters that hit in before or after her in our line up. Hitters that hit before her see more strikes because pitchers don't want people on base when Jess comes up. Teams will also pitch around her so the hitter that hits behind her us usually hitting with at least one runner on base."
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VOTE!
Now it's your turn to decide: who is the most feared hitter in D2 Softball? Remember, polls close Tuesday, April 4 at noon, Pacific.
Who is the Most Feared Hitter in D2 Softball?
