EVANSTON, Ill. – Senior Marissa Panko is today's Big Ten Player of the Week after scorching No. 22 Ohio State in a two-game sweep over the weekend at Sharon J. Drysdale Field.
Panko reached base in all but one plate appearance over the course of the weekend, batting .833 (5-for-6) with three doubles. She also walked twice to earn an .875 on-base percentage.
In Friday's first game, Panko finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. It was her two-run single in the bottom of the sixth that ended the game early for the #B1GCats in run-rule fashion. Not to be lost in the performance is the fact Panko also was perfect on seven fielding chances at shortstop on a windy, rainy day. Her defense was huge in holding a powerful Buckeyes lineup to just two runs in a 10-2 (6) NU win.
In the finale of the rain-shortened series Sunday, Panko was 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles and two runs.
Panko is in the midst of a red-hot month, batting .407 over Northwestern's last 16 games and an even .500 over the Wildcats past seven contests. After a somewhat slow start to the year, she has her season average back up over .300 at .303.
Northwestern has midweek action on tap Wednesday, April 18, with a 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET game at Notre Dame. The Wildcats then travel to Rutgers April 20-21 for their next Big Ten series.
Panko reached base in all but one plate appearance over the course of the weekend, batting .833 (5-for-6) with three doubles. She also walked twice to earn an .875 on-base percentage.
In Friday's first game, Panko finished 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a stolen base. It was her two-run single in the bottom of the sixth that ended the game early for the #B1GCats in run-rule fashion. Not to be lost in the performance is the fact Panko also was perfect on seven fielding chances at shortstop on a windy, rainy day. Her defense was huge in holding a powerful Buckeyes lineup to just two runs in a 10-2 (6) NU win.
In the finale of the rain-shortened series Sunday, Panko was 2-for-2 with two walks, two doubles and two runs.
Panko is in the midst of a red-hot month, batting .407 over Northwestern's last 16 games and an even .500 over the Wildcats past seven contests. After a somewhat slow start to the year, she has her season average back up over .300 at .303.
Northwestern has midweek action on tap Wednesday, April 18, with a 4 p.m. CT/5 p.m. ET game at Notre Dame. The Wildcats then travel to Rutgers April 20-21 for their next Big Ten series.