By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Former Shawnee Heights state champion Alexis Dial, now a senior at Emporia State, has been named the MIAA Hitter of the Week for the second consecutive week while Washburn University sophomore pitcher Sadie Walker has been selected as the conference pitcher of the week.
Alexis Dial
Sadie Walker
Dial, the Hornets' center fielder, hit .500 with nine total runs batted in, seven runs scored and four stolen bases as Emporia State ran its winning streak to 14 games and was the only undefeated team in the Washburn Invitational.
Dial started the week going 2 for 2 with a double, two RBI, and two runs in ESU’s 9-1 run-rule win over UMary. She then went 1 for 3 with a double in the Hornets' 3-2 win over Sioux Falls in the ESU Classic last Monday.
Dial was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two stolen bases in a 12-7 win over Minot State to start the WU Invitational. She also went 2 for 3 in a 3-2 win over Minnesota State that same day. Dial was 2 for 4 with a home run in ESU’s 3-2 win in eight innings over Augustana and 1 for 3 with an RBI in the Hornets' 9-1 win over Minn.-Crookston.
On the final day of the WU Invitational, Dial was 1 for 3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored in a 15-0 win over Maryville before ending the tournament going 2 for 4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored in the Hornets' 9-6 win over Sioux Falls.
Dial is on an 11-game hitting streak and the Hornets have won 14 straight games.
Walker, a former Holton star, was 3-0 in four appearances with an 0.00 ERA last week.
Walker struck out 17 batters with three walks with two complete-game shutouts, including a five-inning perfect game against Rockhurst in the weekend finale, a 12-0 Ichabod win.
Against the Hawks, Walker tossed the first perfect game for Washburn since Kelly Swygert pitched one against Southwest Baptist on March 28, 2007.
Walker faced the minimum 15 batters against Rockhurst, throwing 74 pitches and striking out nine of Hawks.
She also threw a five-inning complete game shutout against Minnesota Crookston, allowing three hits while striking out six in the 8-0 WU win.
Her other win came against Winona State, pitching four innings while scattering five hits.
