ST. LOUIS – Sophomore outfielder Megan Sowa (Gurnee, Ill.) of the Drake University softball team has been named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday (March 9) afternoon.

Sowa blitzed the opposing pitching staffs at the Colorado State Classic this past weekend. She went 9-for-17 with one triple, one home run, two doubles, five runs scored and seven runs batted in along with a .941 slugging and .550 on-base percentage. Sowa was held hitless in the tournament's first game against Omaha, but bounced back with nine hits in her next 13 at-bats along with drawing two walks.

Her performance in Fort Collins, Colo. raised her season batting average from .216 to .313, which ranks second on the team. Sowa has three home runs, four doubles, 15 runs scored and 17 runs batted in on the year. This is her first career league Player of the Week honor.

Drake opens its MVC slate at Missouri State on March 14-15 with three games scheduled against the Bears. On the way back from Springfield, Mo., the Bulldogs will stop in Lawrence, Kan. on March 16 to play Kansas in one game set for 1 p.m. Drake hosts Evansville, March 21-22, in its home opener at Ron Buel Field.