MIAC Athletes of Week

WINONA, Minn. — If people didn't recognize the name Nat Boissiere (Plymouth, Minn.) before the season started, they certainly do by now.

Boissiere has feasted on opposing pitchers this season in leading the way for the Saint Mary's University fastpitch softball team — and those efforts did not go unnoticed, as the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference named Boissiere Softball Athlete of the Week, it was announced Monday.

Boissiere has been virtually unstoppable for the Cardinals this season — and the SMU freshman's effort against Augsburg was just the latest in a long line of stellar offensive performances. Boissiere hit .778 in the Cardinals' MIAC-opening sweep against the Auggies last Thursday, going 7-for-9 with a double and three runs scored.

Boissiere started the conference season in style, going 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs in a 13-3, five-inning win over the Auggies. And she was even better in the nightcap, going 4-for-5 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a double in a 13-9 victory.

Boissiere owns a team-best .605 batting average through the Cardinals' first 13 games, while also leading the team in hits (26), total bases (30), slugging percentage (.698) and on-base percentage (.609), and sharing the team lead with four doubles. Boissiere has compiled eight multiple-hit games — including a pair of four-hit performances. Her four doubles are tops in the MIAC, while her .605 batting average and .609 slugging percentage are second in the conference.

Boissiere and the Cardinals are back in action on Tuesday, traveling to the Rochester Dome in Rochester, Minn., for a 5 p.m. conference doubleheader against Bethel.