Softball: Myers Grabs National Player of the Week Honor

Contact: Cory Weigel

LAFAYETTE, La. — Ragin’ Cajuns’ Junior shortstop Nerissa Myers has been named the Louisville Slugger Division I National Player of the Week for games played March 12-18, announced the NFCA on Tuesday.

Myers had a big week for the Louisiana, who are off to the best start in program history at 26-0.  Over four games last week, Myers was 5-for-10 with 10 RBIs, six runs, two home runs, a walk and a stolen base.  Myers also hit .500, with a 1.400 slugging percentage and a .615 on-base percentage.

The native of Petal, Miss., has played an integral role in the Cajuns’ hot start this year and last week was no different.  In the Cajuns’ 9-2 win over fifth-ranked and defending national champion Arizona State on Thursday, Myers went 2-for-3 including a home run in the third that gave Louisiana an early 2-0 lead.  The next day against Fresno State, Myers smacked her second grand slam of the season and the seventh overall for the Cajuns in 2012.
“Nerissa has been clutch all year long,” co-head coach Michael Lotief said. “It’s easy for people to recognize that she is phenomenal on the defensive side of the ball, but offensively she’s starting to be a huge presence in our lineup. She’s a tireless worker, she’s selfless, she’s a great teammate, she’s a leader, she sets a higher standard for our team, and she’s really and truly the heart and soul of our team.”

On the year, Myers is batting .386 and has a team leading .536 on-base percentage.  She also leads her team in runs (42), walks (21) and stolen bases (11).
“Thanks to the NFCA this is an incredible honor for a humble, hardworking, good kid. Her story from going from predominately slow-pitch to transitioning to fast pitch to now being on the big stage in college is inspiring to a lot of little girls in softball land.”
Myers, the reigning Sun Belt Conference Softball Player of the Week, is the second Cajun player to earn national player of the week honors this season. Christi Orgeron was named the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week for Feb. 13-19.

UL is one of three Division I teams to remain unbeaten on the year, along with No. 1 Alabama and No. 13 Louisville.  The Ragin’ Cajuns will look to keep their winning ways alive this week when they host a double header with Georgia Tech on Thursday and then travel to Troy for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series this weekend.

RaginCajuns.com