WINONA, Minn. — Talking about making a lasting first impression.
 
Makayla Steffes (Winona, Minn.) turned more than a few heads in her collegiate debut for the Saint Mary's University fastpitfch softball team, compiling a .615 batting average and earning a pair of pitching victories in leading the Cardinals to a perfect 4-0 mark last weekend at the Mankato Dome.
 
And the freshman's efforts did not go unnoticed, as Steffes was named MIAC Offensive Player of the Week, the league office announced on Monday.
 
Steffes collected at least one hit in all four of the Cardinals' games — including a 3-for-4 showing in her first game in an SMU uniform against Northwestern last Saturday. Steffes followed that up by going 1-for-3 against UW-La Crosse, 2-for-2 with a double against North Central, and 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scores against Nebraska Wesleyan.
 
All told, Steffes went 8-for-13, with a double and a triple, scored five times and drove I a pair of runs.
 
Add to that a 2-0 record and a 1.32 ERA with four walks and nine strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings of work in the pitcher's circle, and it was quite an impressive debut.
 
Steffes and the Cardinals are back in action this weekend, returning to the Mankato Dome in Mankato, Minn., for games against Martin Luther, Coe, Bethany Lutheran, and Luther.