St. Mary's University News Center

Taylor Vidrine is now a two-time Heartland Player of the Week. (Photo by Antonio Morano Photography / www.moranomemories.photoreflect.com)
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SAN ANTONIO — Welcome to reaping the rewards, Taylor Vidrine.

For the second time this season and for the second time in as many weeks, St. Mary’s freshman Taylor Vidrine has powered away to earn the Heartland Conference Softball Hitter of the Week award, the league announced Monday.

Vidrine had one of the best weeks produced by a Rattler in a long time, homering five times with 10 RBIs and 10 runs scored to go along with a .474 batting average last week. She also had a slugging percentage of 1.316, and shined on the bases, stealing four bases in four attempts. She also drew eight walks, and struck out just once despite swinging for the fences so frequently.

The newcomer to the Rattler squad not only leads her team in homers but also is tied for first in the conference with six for the season. Vidrine is fourth in the conference in RBIs with 20, again leading the Rattlers. When not swinging away at the plate, the San Antonio native mans the pivotal first base position along with junior Jared Gonzalez (San Antonio).

Being a freshman new to collegiate play has anything but phased Vidrine, as she has quickly become one of the Rattlers’ better players, both on the plate and in the field. With already two Heartland Conference Hitter of the Week awards to her name in her first year, Vidrine is looking at a promising career as a Rattler.

Vidrine’s two awards bring St. Mary’s total Heartland Conference honors to five for the season. Emily Brittain (So., San Antonio) leads the way with three Pitcher of the Week awards.

Weather permitting, St. Mary’s (17–14) will host Abilene Christian in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Mary’s Softball Field.

St. Mary’s University, as a Catholic Marianist University, fosters the formation of people in faith and educates leaders for the common good through community service, integrated liberal arts and professional education, and academic excellence. The University has six athletic national titles: men’s basketball (1989–NAIA), baseball (2001–NCAA Div. II), softball (1986–NAIA and 2002–NCAA Div. II) and an individual national champion in men’s golf (2006–NCAA Div. II) and a national academic championship in men’s golf (2009–NCAA Div. II). St. Mary’s also had more than 40 percent of its athletes named to conference, regional and/or national honor rolls this past year. St. Mary’s student–athletes graduation rate is 65 percent, higher than the NCAA Division II average of 55 percent. To learn more about St. Mary's, visit www.stmarytx.edu/athletics.