April 18, 2011
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – For the third straight week – and fifth time in her Notre Dame softball career – Irish third baseman Heather Johnson has been named BIG EAST Conference Player of the Week, as announced by the league Monday afternoon. The honor came one day after Johnson improved her current hitting streak to 21 consecutive games, aided by three multi-hit efforts in six contests this past week.
Since the league began handing out the weekly award in 1992, Johnson is the only player to earn the honor on three consecutive occasions.
Notre Dame posted a 5-1 record during its recent six-game homestand with Johnson going 9-for-17 (.529) in addition to driving in nine RBI and slamming three home runs. Each of the three home runs came during a three-game BIG EAST series with Louisville to end the week with a gaudy 1.059 slugging pct.
Johnson has now homered six times in eight BIG EAST contests (tied for first among league players) while hitting .600 against league foes with a BIG EAST-leading 1.400 slugging pct. Johnson has recorded at least one RBI in the last 17 games with 15 RBI coming against conference opponents.
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