Sugar Bears Softball Player Melanie Bryant Named SLC Hitter of the Week

Courtesy University of Central Arkansas Athletics Department

Central Arkansas catcher Melanie Bryant has been named the Southland Conference’s Hitter of the Week following a record-breaking week.

Bryant hit an impressive .588 while recording a slugging percentage of 1.235 and an on-base percentage of .632 in a week that saw the Bears (5-5) record wins over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Ole Miss. She went 10-of-16, hitting two doubles and three home runs. Bryant helped account for 17 runs, driving in 11 runs and scoring six herself.

Saturday was an especially important day for Bryant. In Central Arkansas’ 4-2 win over Ole Miss, Bryant went 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored. In the fifth inning, with the score tied 1-1, Bryant launched a pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run, the 25th of her Central Arkansas career. The homer moved her into a tie with former Bear outfielder Kasey Britt for first place on Central Arkansas’ career home-run list. Bryant didn’t stay tied with Britt for long though, blasting a solo shot to right field in the first inning of Central Arkansas’ 11-2 loss to South Alabama later that day.

Bryant and the Bears return to the field this weekend, playing host to Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling State, Ball State, Creighton, and Northern Iowa in the Central Arkansas Invitational. The Bears take the field at 5:00 and 7:00 on Friday; 1:00, 5:00, and 7:00 on Saturday; and 1:00 on Sunday.

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