Stukes Helps Secure Bears as Fifth Seed; Earns Player of the Week Honors
5/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MACON, Ga. – Mercer junior shortstop Sara Stukes was named the Atlantic Sun Player of the week on Monday after she sealed the Bears clutch victory in game two of Saturday's doubleheader against Kennesaw with a solo home run.
This is the first-career honor for Stukes, who has had yet another impressive season in her junior year. Her team-leading sixth home run came in dramatic fashion in the fifth inning of game two and ended up being the game-winner as the Bears finished off the sweep of in-state rival Kennesaw St.
As it turned out it was also the run that secured the Bears their fifth trip to the A-Sun tournament in the last six seasons. Going into Saturday's doubleheader the Bears were not assured one of the six spots in the conference tournament that starts on May 11, but thanks to Stukes clutch hitting left the afternoon as the fifth seed.
Stukes finished out the doubleheader going 2-for-4 at the plate with a team-high two RBI. She also had the game-winning RBI in game one as she laced a single in the bottom of the fourth scoring Heather Strange from third.
The Bears will finish out their 2011 regular season with a final non-conference doubleheader at Presbyterian this Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
