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

"(It was a) big time week for (Sara)," said Texas State softball head coach Ricci Woodard. "For her to step up when we had players out with COVID-19 protocol, we could not be prouder of her!"

Vanderford becomes the second Bobcat in as many weeks to earn the conference's player of the week as senior shortstop Tara Oltmann was selected last week. 

It marks the first time in program history that Texas State has picked up the Sun Belt Player of the Week honor in back-to-back week. Vanderford's honor marks the first time the Bobcats have had any weekly Sun Belt Conference honor since Randi Rupp had back-to-back SBC Pitcher of the Week honors on April 10 and April 17, 2018. 

Vanderford led the team with a .636 batting average (7-11) in five starts during the week. She also recorded a .667 on-base percentage and 1.273 slugging percentage. She also paced the Bobcats with 14 total bases, seven hits, seven runs batted in, four doubles, one hit by pitch, one sacrifice fly and one sacrifice hit. 

Vanderford had four straight games with a run-scoring hit, did not record an out in 11 consecutive plate appearances and went 7-for-7 at the plate across four games. 

Texas State (10-3) will return to action on Wednesday, March 10 when it plays Sam Houston State at 6 p.m. in San Marcos.