BTN.com staff, May 7, 2012

The Big Ten Conference released its Big Ten Softball Players of the Week for April 30-May 6 on Monday. See all the winners and check out what they did to earn the distinctions in this post.

Player of the Week: Adrienne Monka, Northwestern, Sr., 1B, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif./Rancho Cucamonga

  • Hit .700 on the week, reached base at a .786 clip and slugged 1.400 to combine for an OPS of 2.186
  • Finished with a .750 average in a three-game sweep of Michigan State, driving in eight runs and scoring four
  • Was a perfect 3-for-3 in Game 1 of the series with four RBI, used a home run and a double to drive in three in Game 2, and belted a solo shot in Game 3
  • Wins her sixth career conference weekly honor and second this season
  • Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Adrienne Monka (April 30, 2012)

Pitcher of the Week: Pepper Gay, Illinois. Jr., P, Avondale Estates, Ga./St. Pius X

  • Factored in the decision in all three Illinois victories over Penn State last weekend, posting two wins and a save
  • Earned complete-game victories in Games 1 and 3, scattering 10 hits and three runs over 14.0 innings of work
  • Came on in relief in Game 2, pitching three innings of hitless ball to earn the save, and finished the series with a 1.24 ERA
  • Wins her second Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honor in as many weeks
  • Last Illinois Pitcher of the Week: Pepper Gay (April 30, 2012)

Freshman of the Week: Amy Letourneau, Northwestern, P/DP, Laguna Nigel, Calif./Santa Margarita Catholic

  • Drove in seven runs and earned a win on the mound against Michigan State
  • In the first game of a doubleheader, went 3-for-4 from the plate with a home run, two doubles, and seven RBI
  • Went to the circle for Game 2 of the twinbill, where she pitched a complete-game four-hitter for the victory
  • Wins her first conference award
  • Last Northwestern Freshman of the Week: Marisa Bast (April 25, 2012)