LAFAYETTE, La. — DJ Sanders’ rapid increase in offensive production the past two weeks has earned the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns softball shortstop national attention.
On Tuesday, Sanders received two national honors as she tied the school record with a fifth Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week award.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) and USA Softball bestowed their respective player of the week honor on Sanders, a former standout at New Hope High School in Columbus. Sanders was named Louisville/Slugger NFCA Division I National Player of the Week and USA Softball Collegiate National Player of the Week.
Sanders collected the first national awards of her career. She joins former Ragin’ Cajun and three-time All-American and Sun Belt Player of the Year Lexie Elkins, who won both awards on Feb. 16, 2016, as recent program members to sweep the national honors.
It’s the second national honor for the Ragin’ Cajuns this season. In February, Alyssa Denham earned the distinction from USA Softball after her role in the Alabama series win.
Sanders was a familiar site on the base paths last week. She reached base safely in 14 of 15 plate appearances and scored all but once, totaling 13 runs. The junior also drew nine walks and recorded a .933 on-base percentage.
Sanders went 5-for-6 last week with four home runs and 10 RBIs. She opened the scoring with a two-run first-inning homer in a 11-9 road win at No. 4 Texas A&M and also drew a pair of two-out walks that set up a grand slam and a base-clearing double from Haley Hayden. In Saturday’s doubleheader against Georgia State, she was 4-for-4 with three home runs, seven RBIs, and seven runs scored.
“We have a plan that changes for each pitcher, and coach Mike (Lotief) does a good job preparing us for what’s coming,” Sanders said. “We spend all week preparing for it, so I’m not up there guessing what the pitcher is going to throw. It just so happens that when I square it, it usually goes out, but it’s only because of the preparation that Coach Mike has put in.”
Sanders’ home run production on the week increased her nation-leading total to 27, which is the third-most in a single season in Ragin’ Cajun history trailing only 30 by Gomez in 2006 and Elkins’ record 32 hit in 2015.
In addition to home runs, Sanders is the nation’s leader in runs per game (1.45), RBIs (70), RBIs per game (1.67), total bases (140), and slugging percentage (1.157).
Last week’s performance continued a month-long hot streak for the Ragin’ Cajuns slugger. Since April 1, Sanders is batting .500 with 26 runs scored, 11 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a 1.563 slugging percentage.
No. 16 Louisiana (36-6, 17-1 Sun Belt) will close the home portion of the schedule and celebrate Senior Weekend on Saturday when it plays Coastal Carolina (29-19, 7-13) in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Lamson Park.
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