University of Missouri-St. Louis senior first baseman Brianna Butler and University of Southern Indiana junior pitcher/first baseman Brooke Harmening have been named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Players of the Week in the sport of softball, the conference office announced Wednesday.
Harmening went 4-0 with a 0.75 ERA and 24 strikeouts to lead Southern Indiana to a 6-0 record at the Charger Chillout. The Whiteland, Indiana, native, who broke USI’s career record for strikeouts, began the week with a two-hit shutout in USI’s 3-0 victory over the University of West Georgia on Friday. She returned to the circle to scattered five hits and one run throughout seven innings in USI’s 6-1 victory over NCAA II Midwest Region foe Ferris State Saturday. She matched her strikeout total from Friday as she finished with eight strikeouts against the Bulldogs. On Sunday, Harmening allowed just four hits and two runs, one earned, in USI’s 3-2 victory over No. 12 Alabama-Huntsville. She came back later in the day to fan five North Alabama batters in USI’s 5-3 win over the previously unbeaten Lions. Harmening, who scattered seven hits and three runs, just one earned, throughout seven innings against North Alabama, surpassed Katie Roberts for first place on USI’s career strikeouts list with 517 in USI’s win over the Lions.
For the week, Harmening scattered 18 hits throughout 28 innings, allowing just three earned runs. Opponents hit just .176 against the two-time All-GLVC honoree. Additionally, Harmening hit .389 with a double and five RBIs at the plate. Her week at the plate was highlighted by a 3-of-4, two-RBI effort in USI’s 10-1 victory over Montevallo. She also had an RBI in USI’s win over North Alabama. Her effort has the Eagles off to their best start since they began the 1998 season with 12 straight wins.
This is Harmening’s second career weekly award, but first as Pitcher of the Week. She was named GLVC Player of the Week on April 1, 2013.