OKLAHOMA CITY – Contributing to a 5-0 week and the fifth straight Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) sweep for the Dukes, James Madison junior Odicci Alexander (Boydton, Va.) has earned Week 12 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week honors. Announced today by USA Softball, Alexander was dominant both in the circle and the batter’s box, driving in one-fourth of the team’s runs through five contests on the week.
“It’s a great honor to receive this recognition and I’m really proud of how our team played together this week,” said Alexander. “Everyone stepped up when we needed them to and that just pushed me to perform well. Knowing that my defense and teammates have my back in the lineup is such a good feeling. I’m excited to use our success as momentum moving into our last conference series and especially into the postseason.”
Collecting three hits including a home run in a midweek doubleheader against Virginia, Alexander also earned five strikeouts in four innings to pick up her 17th win in the circle in game one on Wednesday. Against Drexel, the junior drove in one run and scored once while striking out 10 batters through five complete innings in the series opener for her sixth shutout of the season as the Dukes captured a 14-0 (five inning) win. Continuing the momentum into the second game of the CAA series, Alexander went yard twice in a 9-4 win for the Dukes. After earning the regular-season title for the sixth consecutive season, Alexander helped James Madison complete the series sweep with a 12-2 (five inning) victory in which Alexander hit a grand slam in the first inning and plated JMU’s final runs of the game with a two-run shot to left. Alexander matched her power at the plate, upping her season record to 19-1 in the circle after fanning five in five-total innings.
“I’m so happy that Odicci is being nationally recognized for all of the hard work she’s been putting in,” said JMU Head Coach, Loren LaPorte. “She’s been consistent in the field and at the plate, and that’s what makes her such a key player on our team. It was fun to watch her have an explosive week at the plate while remaining strong in the circle.”
For the week, Alexander had a .500 (8-for-16) average with five home runs, 13 RBI and eight runs scored while amassing a 1.563 slugging percentage. From the circle, she was 3-0 and racked up 20 strikeouts in 14 innings pitched.
This is the first USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week for Alexander and third Player of the Week accolade for an athlete from James Madison.
2019 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 7-10): Kassidy Wilbur – Stephen F. Austin – Freshman – Pitcher – Bridge City, Texas
Week 2 (Feb. 11-17): Zoe Casas – Florida State – Senior – Outfield – Rialto, Calif.
Co-Week 3 (Feb. 18-24): Danielle Gibson — Arkansas — Sophomore — Infield — Murrieta, Calif.
Co-Week 3 (Feb. 18-24): Andrea Scali — Kent State — RS Freshman — Pitcher — Parma, Ohio
Week 4 (Feb. 25-March 3): Meghan Beaubien — Michigan — Sophomore — Pitcher — Newport, Mich
Week 5 (March 4-10): Jenna Cone — George Washington — Junior — Catcher — Trabuco Canyon, Calif.
Week 6 (March 11-17): Rachel Garcia — UCLA — RS Junior — Pitcher — Palmdale, Calif.
Week 7 (March 18-24): Maddi Hackbarth – Arizona State – Junior — Catcher — Oakdale, Calif.
Week 8 (March 25-31): Kristina Foreman – Duke – Freshman – Infield — Tampa, Fla.
Week 9 (April 1-7): Jazlyn Crowder – Louisiana Tech – Senior – Outfield – Kennedale, Texas
Week 10 (April 8-14): Keely Rochard — Virginia Tech — Sophomore — Pitcher — Williamsburg, Va.
Week 11 (April 15-21): Krystal Aubert – Sacramento State – Senior – Infield – Orangevale, Calif.
Week 12 (April 22-28): Odicci Alexander – James Madison – Junior – Pitcher/Infield – Boydton, Va.