ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) announced their Athlete of the Week award winners Tuesday in the sports of baseball, softball, and men’s and women’s tennis. The awards are nominated by UMAC coaches and athletics communications staff and selected each week by the latter group.
BASEBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Benji Bruce, Graduate Student, Northwestern Eagles
Andover, Minn. / Maranatha Christian
- Bruce had a phenomenal UMAC-opening series vs. North Central, hitting .571 with a home run, 2 doubles and 8 RBI across the 3 games. His RBI single in game 2 of the series tied the game in the 9th inning, paving the way for UNW to win in extras.
BASEBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Ben Welle, Senior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Melrose, Minn. / Melrose
- Once again Welle shined in his last outing. Facing off against Northland College, he pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits while striking out four. Welle now leads the team and the league in innings pitched (32.2) while sitting third in the UMAC in strikeouts (29).
SOFTBALL ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Katie Vaughan, Sophomore, Crown Polars
Ridgecrest, Calif. / Burroughs
- Vaughan hit .500 on the week slugging .833 with 12 hits, 11 runs, 8 RBI's, 3 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run.
SOFTBALL PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Emma Heffron, Senior, Northwestern Eagles
Altoona, Iowa / Grand View Christian
- In two games, Emma Heffron pitched 10 innings for the Eagles. She struck out a total of 11 batters and didn't give up any earned runs. Against MIAC opponent, St. Olaf, Heffron only allowed 5 hits, and in a shutout against NCU, she only allowed 4 hits. Heffron has the 3rd lowest ERA and allows the 3rd lowest opposing batting average in the UMAC.
MEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Igor Guetten Chaves, Junior, UW-Superior Yellowjackets
Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil / Colégio Adventista
- Guetten Chaves picked up a victory at No. 1 singles Saturday against the No. 14 ranked Gustavus Adolphus Golden Gusties, taking down Takura Mhwandagara 7-5, 6-2. Saturday's win marked his fourth victory in his last five matches.
WOMEN’S TENNIS NORTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Elyse Steffen, Junior, Crown Polars
Mapleton, Minn. / Maple River
- Steffen led the Crown women to their first team win of the season with a #3 doubles win and #6 singles against Western Connecticut State. She went 1-5 in doubles and singles play falling in tiebreakers to CSB and New Paltz.
MEN’S TENNIS SOUTH DIVISION ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Jesús Soto Bossa, Junior, Principia Panthers
Cartagena, Colombia
- Jesus had an amazing week of tennis in our 4 matches. He and partner Nacho Zamora went 4-0 on the week at doubles over stiff competition. Against two good teams in California, he and his partner won both their matches at 2nd doubles, including a 7-6 (8) over Whittier College. In their matches against Monmouth College and Illinois Wesleyan University, Soto Bossa and Zamora moved to 1st doubles and went 2-0 there. They were able to save 3 match points against IWU, helping secure the doubles point against IWU, allowing Principia to win the match 4-3. At 1st singles, Soto Bossa went 2-2 and had a big win against Illinois Wesleyan, helping lead Principia to the victory.
The UMAC is an NCAA Division III member comprised of eight full-time member schools from Minnesota and Wisconsin: Bethany Lutheran College, Crown College, Martin Luther College, North Central University, Northland College, University of Minnesota Morris, University of Northwestern, and University of Wisconsin-Superior.
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