ATLANTA, Ga. – Following a dominant weekend by the Central Arkansas softball team, the Bears took home both weekly ASUN awards, with Mary Kate Brown being named Player of the Week and Jordan Johnson picking up her second Pitcher of the Week award of the season.
 
The duo led Central Arkansas to its third series sweep this season, with the Colonels marking the first road sweep for the Bears. Standing at 10-5 in ASUN play, the Bears took sole possession of first place in the ASUN West after dominating Eastern Kentucky.
 
Brown captures her first nod as the premier player in the conference after a terrific series against Eastern Kentucky. A huge driving force of the offense, the redshirt sophomore drove in six runs across three games, bringing in a pair of runs in each outing. Batting .571 over the series, she started the weekend with a 4-for-4 day at the plate, driving in two of the five runs on the day.
 
The Atkins, Ark., native also maintained that focus and effort on the defensive end, converting on all eight opportunities that came her way at second base. Brown is fifth in the ASUN in RBI this season with 36 and seventh in the conference with 45 hits.
 
Johnson landed her second Pitcher of the Week award after dicing up the Colonels en route to a pair of wins over the weekend. In a complete game win in the first matchup of the series, the redshirt junior retired 11 batters via strikeout, allowing only one earned run as the Bears won 5-1. In her second appearance, Johnson struck out seven in 4.1 innings of work, qualifying for the win and helping Central Arkansas to the series sweep.
 
Her 18 combined strikeouts came in 11.1 innings in the circle, helping the Paola, Kan., native build her lead in the conference's strikeout leaderboard. Up to 134, she leads the conference by nine Ks and has won four-straight decisions.
 
Up next for Central Arkansas is a midweek game against Memphis. With a 5 p.m. first pitch, the Bears take on the Tigers in the Bluff City for the second time this season after playing in the UoM Tournament in the early spring.
 
2022 Weekly Award Winners
 
Feb. 14
Tremere Harris – Player of the Week
 
Feb. 28
Jordan Johnson – Pitcher of the Week
 
Mar. 28
Kayla Beaver – Pitcher of the Week
 
Apr. 18
Mary Kate Brown – Player of the Week
Jordan Johnson – Pitcher of the Week