Bechtold, Hoffman Earn First CCIW Softball Players of the Week Honors of 2006 Season

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – Kristina Bechtold of Millikin and Sara Hoffman of Wheaton were named softball players of the week in the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Tuesday after their performances during the previous week of competition.

Bechtold, a freshman from Westfield, Ind., hit .750 in Millikin’s opening doubleheader (3-for-4) and scored five runs with one RBI and one stolen base. In game one, she was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks. She finished the game on the mound, throwing three innings and allowing just two hits while striking out two. In the second game, she was 2-for-2 with three runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Millikin beat Martin Luther 5-0 and 15-4.

Hoffman, a sophomore from Fremont, Ohio, pitched in five games last week to help lead the Thunder to an 8-2 record in their Spring Break trip to Florida. Hoffman allowed just four runs in 28 innings on the mound with a 1.00 ERA as she earned two wins and a save. Hoffman struck out 22 batters on the week, including eight in a 3-1 victory against Elizabethtown on Monday. In the win against Elizabethtown Hoffman tossed seven innings, did not allow an earned run and gave up just two hits. On Tuesday she pitched a complete game shutout against Pine Manor, holding the opponent to just three hits and striking out six in a 7-0 Thunder victory.

Batter of the Week
Kristina Bechtold- Millikin (3/14/06)

Pitcher of the Week
Sara Hoffman- Wheaton (3/14/06)