Olivet Nazarene University

Posted: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Olivet Nazarene University softball team is off to a 12-2 start and last week the Tigers posted a 9-1 record. Senior first baseman Caitlin Gidcumb's (Spring Valley, Ill.) hitting and sophomore Jordan Reynolds' (Metamora, Ill.) pitching played a big role in their team's success and have been awarded CCAC Player and Pitcher of the Week recognition for the week ending March 14.

Gidcumb batted an impressive .629 on the week with 22 hits in 35 at-bats. She had 10 extra base hits, including six doubles, two triples and two home runs to post a 1.086 slugging percentage. She crossed the plate 14 times while knocking in a total of 14 RBI. In her 39 plate appearances, she only struck out once, while recording a .605 on-base percentage. Gidcumb went 4-for-4 in three different games last week. Against Aquinas College, she went 4-for-4 with three doubles. She also went 4-for-4 against Jamestown College and Patten College. For her performance, Gidcumb also was honored as National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) player of the week. She beat out Nicole Dimiceli (Judson University) for the award. The NCCAA national player of the week award is received by only one softball player from one of the 42 member institutions (average 800 players) within the NCCAA.

Reynolds was outstanding on the mound for the Tigers last week. In four starts, Reynolds went a perfect 5-0. In 20.2 innings pitched, she gave up just four earned runs for a 1.35 ERA. She recorded 17 strikeouts as opposing hitters batted just .155 against her. Reynolds had a complete game shutout over Peru State College, winning 4-0 and giving up just two hits. Against Cornerstone she pitched 4.2 innings without giving up a hit or run.