Malia Bender Award Softball Player of the Week Week Of 3/3/2025 Sport Softball School Illinois Springfield Year Senior Position Utility Hometown Springfield, Ill. High School Springfield PLAYER OF THE WEEK Malia Bender, Illinois Springfield Sr. | OF | Springfield, Ill. Major: Liberal Studies Team Results: L 9-10, L 9-14 vs. Findlay (2/24) | W 4-2, W 5-4 vs. Purdue Northwest (2/28) | W 9-0, W 9-1 vs. Lake Erie (3/1) | W 7-0 vs. Purdue Northwest (3/2) Went 11-for-19 (.579) with two walks and two hit-by-pitches at Springfield Invite, accumulating a .625 on-base percentage Smacked two triples, one homer, and one double, posting a 1.000 slugging percentage and driving in six runs Added 10 runs scored and three stolen bases Recorded multiple hits in four games Earns second career Player of the Week award (3/3/25, 2/12/24) Last Prairie Stars’ Player of the Week: Isabella Wilson (2/26/24)