GREENSBORO, N.C. – Following her batting .600 last week, Kelsey Bennett has been named ACC Co-Player of the Week, as announced by the league office on Tuesday.
It marks her second time this season earning the award, winning it previously on March 5 after her big weekend at then-No. 8 Georgia (28-10, 3-6 SEC). Tech (30-5, 10-2 ACC) has now had a player win either ACC Player of Pitcher of the Week a combined five times this year.
Bennett had a big week at the plate last week, racking up six hits, eight RBIs, four runs, two home runs, a walk and a hit by pitch, while making seven assists and no errors at the hot corner.
The third baseman got a hit in every game versus Radford (15-19, 6-3 Big South) and Louisville (22-12, 4-5 ACC) last week. In Game 1 last Friday, Bennett went 2 for 4 with a home runs and two RBIs, and then followed it up with a 2-for-3 performance with four RBIs thanks to a three-run homer on Saturday, which tied Tech's freshman home-run record with 11 on the year.
She is one of only three freshman in the Power Five to start every game at third base, and is one of only 19 freshman in Division I to bat over .400.
Earlier on Tuesday, the Hokies were tabbed No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and tied for No. 20 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball poll. They are one of only two teams out of the ACC to be ranked (No. 3/3 Florida State). On Monday, they were tabbed the 28th-best RPI in the nation, moving up two spots from last week.
The Hokies will hit the road this weekend after not having a midweek game, heading to Duke (17-19, 8-4 ACC) for a three-game series starting on Friday. All three broadcasts will be on ACC Network Extra.
