March 10, 2008

By Kyle Herm
www.SIUSalukis.com

ST. LOUIS - The Missouri Valley Conference announced Southern Illinois junior third baseman, Katie Wagner, as the State Farm MVC Player of the Week on Monday, March 10.

Wagner hit 8-for-17 (.471) with three home runs, nine runs batted in, five runs scored and a double at the Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament in Honolulu, Hawaii, March 6-9.

Wagner boosted her season batting average by 60 points to .299 (20-for-67) during the tournament, and had a career-day in the second game against Idaho State on Sunday with six RBI on two home runs, including a grand slam homer. She drove in six of the Salukis' nine runs to help lift SIU past the Bengals, 9-3.

Wagner also had a hand in the first win against Idaho State, driving in two runs, with a double, and also hit a solo home run against No. 15 Hawaii.

The Mt. Vernon native was also named to the Malihini Kipa Aloha All-Tournament Team at third base for her performance throughout the competition.

This is the first-career player of the week award for Wagner, and second time this season a Saluki has been honored by the league office. Sophomore outfielder, Katie Wilson was named player of the week by the MVC following the first two tournaments of the season on Feb. 18.

Southern Illinois will return home this weekend to host Northern Iowa for the first MVC series of the season. SIU and the Panthers will play a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 12 p.m., followed by a single game on Sunday at noon.