April 6, 2015

BLUFFTON, Ohio - A pair of Bluffton University softball players swept the Heartland Conference Player of the Week awards in much the same fashion that the team has swept it last four opponents. Senior Jess Kuzara (Flat Rock, Mich./Huron) was named the HCAC Hitter of the Week, while freshman Jessie Madzia (Massillon/Tuslaw) earned HCAC Pitcher of the Week honors.

Jess Kuzara helped the Beavers sweep three road doubleheaders during the week and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week. The senior third baseman finished the week 7-for-20 (.350) at the plate with five home runs, 10 runs scored, six RBI, and a 1.100 slugging percentage as the Beavers swept Olivet, Case Western Reserve, and Rose-Hulman. Kuzara continued her aerial assault with a two-run shot in Bluffton's game two win over Defiance on Monday afternoon.

Jessie Madzia finished the week with a perfect 3-0 mark and a microscopic 0.44 ERA in the circle and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week. The freshman tossed 16 innings with two complete games as she earned wins over Olivet, Case Western Reserve, and Rose-Hulman. Madzia allowed just three runs, one earned, with 13 strikeouts, while holding opponents to a .172 batting average.

Bluffton University travels to the College of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati for a doubleheader on Saturday, April 11, with the first game scheduled for 1 PM.

-BEAVERS-