Bender and Pippin Sweep Region 8 Softball Player of the Week Awards

Player of the Week HQ

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Softball) – Lakehawk softball swept the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 8 Division II Player of the Week awards for the second consecutive week. Freshman outfielder Molly Bender was named Player of the Week and junior pitcher Darian Pippin was named Pitcher of the Week.

Molly Bender – Player of the Week

In four games, Bender hit .357 with five hits including a double, a homerun. She had seven runs scored, one walk, four RBIs, and went 6-for-6 in stolen bases.

Bender's best offensive performance came in game one in the Lakehawks' double header against Hillsborough Community College. She went 2-for-3 with a two-run homerun and two runs scored.

For the season so far, Bender is batting .429, with a .455 on-base percentage, and a .762 slugging percentage.

"When Molly hits it's like I bought tickets to the laser show. She is seeing all the hours she put in in the weight room and on the field come to fruition.

Molly is a natural hitter and, as a coach, she is just fun to watch," said head coach Jay Miller.

Darian Pippin – Pitcher of the Week

Pippin is receiving the first Pitcher of the Week honor of her career at Lake-Sumter for her performance on the mound last week. She pitched 10.1 innings allowing just nine hits, one earned run, and walked only one batter while striking out six maintaining an ERA of just .677.

Pippin threw a complete game against Hillsborough Community College allowing just one runs while fanning three. She entered the game in relief in the Lakehawk's come-from-behind win against Polk State and shut them down allowing no hits and no runs to score in 3.1 innings of work.

On the season, Pippin is 3-0 on the mound in 20.1 innings pitched. She has allowed just 11 hits, two walks, and one earned run with 14 strikeouts with an impressive pitching staff low ERA of 0.34.

"To see her development in the circle since she (Pippin) got here is impressive. You can see her confidence continue to grow after each outing this season, I am very happy for her," said Coach Miller.

After two weeks of competition this season, Pippin currently maintains the lowest ERA in the conference of pitchers who have thrown more than 10.0 innings.

"It is exciting for the entire team when these things happen; Four awards, four different players.

Again, it goes back to the hours these girls put in competing against each other in the fall and spring practices. It's a very exciting group for sure" said Coach Miller.

Up next for the Lakehawks

Bender, Pippin and the Lakehawks will travel to St. Petersburg College Tuesday, February 7 to play a double header at 4:00 and 6:00 p.m.

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