Caryn Bailey Named USA Softball National Player Of The Week

Oklahoma City – Junior outfielder Caryn Bailey was named the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Week for the period ending May 10.

Bailey helped Hofstra win the program's third Colonial Athletic Association title in four years with a conference tournament for the ages. The Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania native reached base safely in 11-of-14 plate appearances and set CAA Championship records by smashing four home runs and collecting 18 total bases. Bailey drove in eight runs and scored six runs in her nine at-bats while walking five times for a .786 on-base percentage. The center fielder slugged 2.000 and hit .667 in four games, including back-to-back two-home run games versus Elon and No. 18/17 James Madison.

Down to its last out in the second day against top-seeded JMU, Bailey hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to lift Hofstra to a 5-3 win. The Pride bested the Dukes the next day to win the conference championship, which was Bailey's second CAA crown of her career.

"The award is very special and I'm very thankful and humbled by the recognition," Bailey said. "What my team accomplished this week still has not completely sunk in. Any personal success I had was thanks to my teammates for keeping us in every single game, and to my coaches for preparing me for every situation that would come my way."

Bailey continues to be the offensive leader and her 16 home runs are twice as much as the next-closest teammate in freshman Megan Patierno.

Bailey, the CAA home run leader, needs just one more blast to tie Danielle Stewart's program single-season record of 17 set in 2003. With four home runs in the Colonial Athletic Association Championship, she extended her career total to 32. The left-handed hitter was just the third Hofstra player to reach the 30-home run club and trails Tessa Ziemba by seven for the second-most all-time.

She is hitting .396 with 47 runs scored in 50 games. She has walked more than she has struck out (29-to-25) and is slugging .762 on the season.

Bailey was the first Hofstra player to win the USA Softball weekly honor since Olivia Galati on April 7, 2013. Galati threw two no-hitters that week, including a perfect game.

Hofstra will head to the Gainesville Regional and will open double-elimination play on Friday at 3:30 p.m. against Florida Atlantic in a game televised by ESPN3. Florida, the No. 1 overall seed and the defending national champion, will take on Florida A&M in the second game at 6 p.m.

2015 USA Softball National Collegiate Players of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 5-8): Taylor Schoblocher - North Texas - Junior - Utility – Forney, Texas
Week 2 (Feb. 9-15): Lauren Haeger - Florida - Senior - Pitcher/1B – Peoria, Ariz.
Week 3 (Feb. 16-22): Jenna Lilley - Oregon - Freshman - Infield - North Canton, Ohio
Week 4 (Feb. 23 - March 1): Sierra Lawrence - Michigan - Junior - Outfield - Snellville, Ga.
Week 5 (March 2-8): Emily Carosone - Auburn - Junior - Outfield - Orlando, Fla.
Week 6 (March 9-15): Bianka Bell - LSU - Junior - Infield - Tampa, Fla.
Week 7 (March 16-22): Megan Good - James Madison - Freshman - Pitcher/Infielder - Mount Sidney, Va.
Week 8 (March 23-29): Geri Ann Glasco - Oregon - Junior - DP/Pitcher - Watkinsville, Ga.
Week 9 (March 30 - April 5): Shelby Turnier - UCF - Junior - Pitcher - Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Week 10 (April 6-12): Paige Parker - OU - Freshman - Pitcher - Independence, Mo.
Week 11 (April 13-19): Lexie Elkins - Louisiana-Lafayette - Junior - Catcher - Victoria, Texas
Week 12 (April 20-26): Savannah Horvath - CSUN - Freshman - Infield - Las Vegas, Nev.
Week 13 (April 27 - May 3): Sara Groenewegen - Minnesota - Sophomore - Pitcher/DP - White Rock, B.C., Canada
Week 14 (May 4-10): Caryn Bailey - Hofstra - Junior - Outfield - Elizabethtown, Pa.