Tuesday, March 05, 2013

Valparaiso sophomore Brittany Duncan (Fairborn, Ohio/Fairborn) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week, while freshman teammate Taylor Weissenhofer (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township) was tabbed Pitcher of the Week after the duo led the Crusaders to a 3-1 record last weekend at the Buccaneer Invitational in Charleston, S.C.

Duncan earned her third career weekly honor from the league office after hitting .545 (6-of-11) with three runs scored and five RBIs over Valpo's four games last weekend. The sophomore tallied her first career multi-home run game in the Crusaders' run-rule win over UNC Wilmington, driving in five runs in that contest. Duncan then went 2-for-3 against #7/9 Tennessee and also reached base three times in the tournament finale against host Charleston Southern. Duncan currently leads the league in batting average (.471) and on-base percentage (.591) and ranks third in slugging percentage (.706).

Meanwhile, Weissenhofer took home her first career weekly honor from the league office after earning the win in all three of Valpo's victories on the weekend. The rookie tossed a two-hitter with seven strikeouts in the Crusaders' run-rule victory over UNC Wilmington, and followed with another five-inning complete-game win in the first matchup against Charleston Southern, scattering four hits and striking out eight. Weissenhofer closed her weekend by entering in relief in the finale versus Charleston Southern with the Crusaders trailing 4-1, throwing six no-hit innings and surrendering just an unearned run in the come-from-behind win. On the weekend, Weissenhofer posted an ERA of 0.88 with a 3-0 record, allowing just six hits in 16 innings of work.