Iowa State’s Sydney Malott (player) and Lauren Schurman (co-pitcher) join Arizona’s Kez Lucas (co-freshman), Oklahoma State’s Ruby Meylan (co-pitcher) and Utah’s Danika Wilson (co-freshman) as Big 12 softball players who earned the league’s weekly recognitions for their play in week seven.

Malott slashed .455/.600/1.273 during the week during games against Creighton and Houston. The senior’s five hits during the week included a long ball in three of four games. Additionally, she drove in eight runs with three each happening in the final two games against Houston, which helped the Cyclones earn two victories, 9-7 and 8-7, to earn their first home Big 12 series sweep in seven seasons. On the defensive end, Malott registered 38 putouts and posted two assists in 40 total chances. She is the first ISU player to earn a Big 12 softball weekly award this season.

Schurman went 4-0 last week, pitching at least two innings in four appearances (13.1 innings).  The right-hander held UH batters to 10 hits and two earned runs in 9.1 innings, while throwing two strikeouts. Throughout the week, the junior posted a 1.05 ERA with a .90 WHIP, only walking two batters with four total strikeouts. This is her second Conference weekly accolade for pitchers after capturing recognition last season (April 15).

Meylan picked up three wins in the circle for the Cowgirls, which included a win over a top-25 team and a perfect game. She pitched a complete game and threw eight strikeouts against then-No. 17/22 Grand Canyon in the 10-5 victory, which became the first loss of the season for the Lopes. Meylan then made history for the Cowgirls after throwing the team’s ninth perfect game in program history during the second game of the series against BYU. The game was her second no-hitter this season. She threw the second-most strikeouts (26) in the country last week in 21.0 innings and only gave up five earned runs with a 1.67 ERA in four appearances. Meylan earned her second weekly award this season.

Wilson posted a .444 batting average, recording four hits in nine at-bats and being walked twice. The freshman tallied at least a hit in each game in the Big 12 series at Kansas, scoring four runs and driving in an additional three. Wilson had a .545 on-base percentage as she picked up her second honor this season.

Lucas drove in five runs as the Wildcats took the series against rival Arizona State. In nine at-bats, the Pauoa, Hawai’i native had four hits and slugged .556. She went 3-for-4 in the second game to help Arizona claim a 9-8 victory to even the series. Her performance set a career high in hits and RBIs with three in a game. The freshman also caught five putouts in five chances as the team won the rubber match 6-4. Lucas is the first Arizona softball player to earn the league’s weekly honor for first-year players.

Big 12 Softball Players of the Week - March 24
Player: Sydney Malott, Iowa State
Pitcher: Lauren Schurman, Iowa State and Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State
Freshman: Kez Lucas, Arizona and Danika Wilson, Utah