March 14, 2016

BLUFFTON, Ohio - A 6-1 finish to the week in Florida propelled the Bluffton University softball team to a sweep of the Heartland Conference Player of the Week awards for the week ending Sunday, March 13. Josie McElroy (Mt. Orab/Western Brown) raked her way to Hitter of the Week honors, while fellow sophomore Nicole Thomas (Tontogany/Otsego) was nearly untouchable in the circle en route to Pitcher of the Week acclaim.

McElroy led the Beavers to a 6-2 record during the week in Kissimmee, Fla. and was named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Hitter of the Week. It marks the second time in her career that McElroy has been the HCAC's top hitter. The sophomore infielder finished the week a red-hot 11-for-21 (.524) with seven runs scored, four doubles, four home runs and 13 RBI, while posting a slugging percentage of 1.286 during the eight contests.

Nicole Thomas finished 2-0 in a pair of starts last week and has been named the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Softball Pitcher of the Week.  The sophomore finished the two starts with a miniscule 0.64 ERA, struck out three, and limited her opponents to a .233 batting average as she defeated Carroll (Wis.) and Montclair State. For the week, Thomas went 2-0, allowing 10 hits and just one earned run in 11.0 innings of work.

Bluffton (6-4, 0-0 HCAC) is slated to face Ohio Northern, Alma and Capital this week. The contest with ONU has been pushed back from Tuesday to Wednesday, March 16 due to anticipated field conditions.

-BEAVERS-