Following a stellar opening weekend at the Eagle Round Robin which saw Middle Tennessee start 4-1 for the first time since 1999, Conference USA has announced senior infielder Austyn Whaley as Player of the Week. The award is the first for Whaley in her career.
“Austyn had the best weekend of her career to date,” Head Coach Jeff Breeden said. “She played excellent offensively, but also played excellent defensively. She batted in the four hole for us all weekend long and was a good leader. Even when she wasn’t in the defensive game and was DPing, she was a big help in the dugout to keep up the energy and enthusiasm. Austyn led us in everything that we did this weekend down in Statesboro.”
Whaley led the team with a .571 batting average during the five-game tournament. She accumulated two doubles, a triple and a home run in Middle Tennessee’s four wins. She was 8-for-14 on the weekend, recording a hit in every game.
She went 2-for-3 with a double and 3 RBI as MT defeated Georgia Southern 9-3. Followed that by going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice fly to help MT defeat TN Tech, 5-3. Then hit a RBI triple and solo home run, going 2-for-3, as MT again defeated TN Tech, this time 8-2. Finally, against Georgia Southern, was 2-for-3 with a double and a stolen base helping MT win, 11-1 in six innings.
Whaley currently ranks in the top five among C-USA leaders in batting average (.571, second), slugging percentage (1.071, second), on-base percentage (.563, fourth), runs scored (five, T-fifth), hits (eight, T-fourth), RBI (eight, T-third), and total bases (15, second).
Breeden added, “Austyn is a senior and very deserving of this honor. She has worked hard her whole career and to get recognition is a great honor for our program and for our school. Austyn is an excellent ambassador for Middle Tennessee and encompasses what it means to be a Blue Raider on campus and in the community.”
Middle Tennessee will play in another tournament this weekend, heading to Hammond, La. For the Lion Classic II hosted by Southeastern Louisiana State. The Raiders will face Southeast Missouri State, Morehead State, UT Arlington, Alcorn State, and the hosts between Friday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 19.
