Feb. 21, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Senior Gretchen Barnes (Flossmoor, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) was named the season's first Big Ten Softball Player of the Week for her efforts last weekend at the Campbell/Cartier Tournament, hosted by San Diego State. This is the first conference honor for the Illinois native and the first for NU since Lauren Schwendimann was named co-pitcher of the week during the 2000 season.
Barnes helped the 'Cats to a 2-2-1 mark in San Diego, batting a team-best .556 on a 10-for-18 effort. She also added nine RBI, eight runs, two home runs and a double. Her performance, which included three three-hit games, garnered a .944 slugging percentage for the weekend.
In the first game of the tournament against Santa Barbara, Barnes was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a stolen base. Later that day, she had three hits in five at-bats, knocking in three runs against Utah State.
Saturday, Barnes continued her torrid pace with another perfect game at the plate (3-for-3) against Sacramento State. She showcased her power with back-to-back home runs during the game, adding five more RBI to her weekend totals.
In Sunday's rain-shortened game versus SDSU, Barnes tallied another hit, two runs and an RBI.
Ten games into the season, she is batting .353 with 11 RBI, nine runs, two doubles and two home runs.
Barnes and the rest of the 'Cats return to action March 1-3 in Louisville, Ky.