Bluffton University freshman Katie Clark (New Palestine, Ind.) is the second Beaver in as many weeks to be named the Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week. Junior Shelby Wade was recognized a week ago after going 6-of-8 at rival Defiance College.
Katie Clark led the Beavers to a 4-2 mark in HCAC play and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week. The freshman slugger went 11-for-19 (.579) at the plate with eight runs scored, seven RBI, three home runs, two doubles, and a triple.
She finished with a 1.263 slugging percentage and a ridiculous 1.863 OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) during the week's action. Clark went 6-for-7 with five RBI and five runs scored in the Sunday sweep of Franklin, tying the school record with a two home run performance in game two.
The freshman sensation is at the top of the Heartland Conference with 48 hits, a .712 slugging percentage and 79 total bases. She is currently ranked second with a .432 batting average and 14 doubles, which is also tied for the Bluffton single-season record. Clark is third in the HCAC with a .488 on-base percentage.
With the dominating performances over the weekend, Bluffton (22-14, 10-4 HCAC) has locked up a spot in the upcoming four-team HCAC tournament for the sixth consecutive season. Bluffton hosts Ohio Wesleyan on Thursday before wrapping up the league schedule at Transylvania on Saturday.
