NEW ORLEANS, La. — For the second consecutive week, Texas State sophomore second baseman Sara Vanderford was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.   

"It's nice when you have a player seeing the ball as well as Sara is right now," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard. "Hopefully, she'll be able to stay in this zone and be able to produce at this level for several weeks to come especially going into conference play."

Vanderford led the Bobcats, which earned four wins throughout the week, in batting average (.571), runs scored (6), hits (8), doubles (3), home runs (1), total bases (14) and slugging percentage (1.000). She did not record a single strikeout in her 14 at bats throughout the week. She also matched her season high with three hits at UTSA and had two 2-RBI performances. 

Vanderford's honor marks the third consecutive week a Bobcat has earned the conference's player of the week after senior shortstop Tara Oltmann was selected two weeks and Vanderford last week. 

Vanderford's selection marks the first time program history Texas State has earned the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week in three straight weeks. It marks the first time since April 3, 10 and 17, 2018 that the Bobcats have earned three consecutive SBC weekly awards when Randi Rupp picked up the SBC Pitcher of the Week over three straight weeks.  

Texas State (14-3) will return to action on Tuesday, March 16 when Woodard goes for career win No. 700 as the Bobcats play Texas A&M - Corpus Christi at 1 p.m.