Royster has been named Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season. The Tampa native is coming off of a week where she snagged 11 defensive rebounds and nine total steals while leading Saint Leo to two conference victories. Against Lynn, Royster held the third highest scorer in the conference to just 37.5 percent from the field. She also pulled down six defensive rebounds, tallied four steals, and blocked two shots as SLU defeated Lynn, 66-61. On the offensive side end of the court she set a career-high of 28 points against Lynn. During a 70-65 home victory against Florida Tech, Royster had five defensive rebounds and five steals, while providing the Lions with 12 points.. With the help of her defensive play, the Lions are now 8-14 overall and 3-11 in SSC play.
Baseball Player of the Week
Karl Ellison / Lynn University / Sr. / C-1B / Naples, Florida
Ellison is named Player of the Week after helping Lynn take a three-game series over RV Columbus State. His top game of the series was a game one loss where he went 3-of-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, two RBI, and a Home Run. Overall on the weekend, he went 6-for-9 at the plate with two homers, six RBI, four runs scored and a walk. In the series-clinching win against the Cougars, the senior transfer was one double short of hitting for the cycle, going 3-for-3 with a walk on the day. The Naples, Florida product had a three-game slashline of .667 BA / .727 OBP / 1.091 Slugging. The Fighting Knights are now 4-3 on the season.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Jake Walsh / Florida Southern College / Jr. / Indinalantic, Florida
Walsh earns Pitcher of the Week honors after leading Florida Southern to victory over No. 33 Mount Olive. The Indialantic, Florida product struck out 10 batters in eight innings pitched, while allowing no runs on five hits. Walsh issued no walks and retired his last 19 batters in order as the Moccasins won the game 1-0. Florida Southern moves to 5-3 overall.
Softball Player of the Week
Erica Morrissey / Florida Southern College / Sr. / 3B / Lakeland, Florida
Morrissey reached base in all four games for Florida Southern over the weekend and had at least one hit in three. The Lakeland, Florida native’s top game came against Georgia Southwestern on Friday evening. Morrissey had four hits and five RBI in an 8-0 win. On Saturday, Morrissey was a part of two of the three innings in which the Mocs scored in their 9-1 win over Georgia Southwestern, reaching on a single and HBP, and scoring runs in each of them. Defensively, Morrissey handled 17 chances at third without an error, made a spectacular play against Newberry that helped keep the game scoreless into extra innings, and ended Saturday by turning a double play that allowed the Moccasins to defeat Georgia Southwestern by the 8-run rule. Morrissey finishes the week with .500 batting average, .600 on-base percentage, and .833 slugging percentage. Florida Southern is now 4-3 overall.
Pence was named Tournament MVP at the 2017 NFCA Leadoff Classic this weekend.. The senior earned three complete-game victories to move her season mark to 6-1 and added a save in the Panthers' win over Central Missouri. In the opening game of the tournament, Pence pitched a complete game with nine strikeouts and no walks, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) as FIT defeated St. Mary's, 5-2, on Friday. On Saturday, Pence led the Panthers to a dominating upset victory (5 innings) over No. 10 Wayne State, 8-0, recording three strikeouts, no walks and allowing one hit. In the second game on Saturday, a 3-2 win over Central Missouri, the Jacksonville product pitched two innings in relief, picking up the save while throwing four strikeouts and issuing a walk. Pence threw her third complete game in the final matchup of the weekend on Sunday, notching five strikeouts while allowing seven hits and five runs (three earned) as FIT defeated Georgia College, 6-5. The Panthers have started the 2017 season with a 7-3 record.
Lalli earns Defensive Player of the Week accolades after his performance against No. 7 LIU Post. The goalkeep made 14 saves, including five in the second quarter, while allowing 11 goals (two powerplay goals). The New Milford, Connecticut native faced a total of 40 shots in the contest, 25 of which were on goal, and tallied a .560 save percentage. Lalli provided FSC with six key saves in the second half as the team battled back to knot the game at 10 in the final two minutes. Ultimately, Florida Southern fell, 11-10, on a last second goal.
Men's Lacrosse Specialist of the Week
Mitch Wilson / Saint Leo University / Jr. / Midfield / Orchard Park, New York
Willson takes Specialist of the Week after helping Saint Leo to a second consecutive win. The midfielder won 18 of 20 faceoff attempts for a 90-percent winning percentage against Chowan last week. The Orchard Park, New York product also picked up a career-high 13 ground balls and added an assist in the, 25-5, Saint Leo victory.