Malone University sophomore catcher Bailey Byers was announced as the Louisville Slugger/NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) Division II National Player of the Week on Wednesday afternoon.
 
Already named G-MAC Player of the Week on Tuesday, the Alliance, OH native and West Branch High School graduate becomes the first Malone softball player to earn the NFCA DII National Player of the Week honor.
 
Byers had a phenomenal week at the plate, producing a .483 batting average with six homeruns, 10 runs scored, and 16 RBI as the Pioneers went 5-3 over eight games during spring break in central Florida. Byers totaled 14 hits, including at least one in each game, and five multi-hit performances.
 
In addition to the six round-trippers, Byers registered six singles, a double, and a triple and finished with a staggering 1.207 slugging percentage. She scored at least one run and had at least one RBI in seven of the eight games. She also added a stolen base.
 
Over two games on the final day of the spring trip, the second-year backstop clubbed three homeruns and drove in seven RBI. In a 7-4 win over Franklin Pierce University, she recorded the second two-homer game of her career and matched a career-high with five RBI.
 
Through 10 games this season in which Malone is 6-4, Byers is hitting .541 with 20 RBI and enters this weekend's home opener on a 10-game hitting streak. She leads Division II in RBI per game (2.0), ranks second in homeruns per game (0.6), and is third in slugging percentage (1.135).