AMERICAN SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Games: February 2 - February 8, 2026
HITTER OF THE WEEK – Makayla Menchue, INF, Jr., East Texas Baptist
East Texas Baptist infielder Makayla Menchue has been selected as the Week 1 American Southwest Conference Hitter of the Week after two impressive batting performances. Over two East Texas Baptist games, Menchue had a perfect performance, going 4-4 at the plate. ETBU opened the season with 12-2 and 9-0 victories over Austin College where Menchue debuted as one of the standout players of the series for the Tigers. Menchue totaled two home runs, one double, four hits, and seven RBIs over the series, finishing perfect from the plate with a 1.000 batting average and 2.750 slugging percentage. Defensively, Menchue was equally impressive, recording seven putouts with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK – Alexis Kemp, RHP, Fr., East Texas Baptist
East Texas Baptist freshman pitcher Alexis Kemp was selected as the Week 1 American Southwest Conference Pitcher of the Week after a dominating performance, where she posted a perfect 0.00 ERA, helping ETBU to a win over Austin College this week. Kemp pitched four innings, striking out seven batters without issuing a walk, and held Austin College opposing hitters to just three hits and a .214 batting average.
OTHER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES
HITTERS
Ashley Blaylock of Howard Payne recorded sixteen at-bats, five runs, seven hits, and three RBIs as Howard Payne faced Schreiner and Central Christian College of Kansas over the past week. Blaylock, a senior from Georgetown, TX, posted a .438 batting average with multiple extra-base hits including two doubles, one triple, and one home run. Blaylock had a high of three hits on Saturday's 10:00 AM win against Central Christian.
Grace Thompson of Hardin-Simmons batted .571 while adding a triple and scoring twice during the week. Thompson recorded seven at-bats, two runs, four hits, and two RBIs for the Cowgirls as they opened the season against St. Thomas. Thompson also recorded three stolen bases.
PITCHERS
Ava Aviles posted a 1.11 ERA across three appearances totaling 6.1 innings pitched for Howard Payne. Aviles allowed just three hits and one earned run while holding opposing batters to a .136 batting average. Aviles also contributed four strikeouts and recorded three assists with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage over the week for the Yellow Jackets.