Softball 4/6/2026 2:43:00 PM

Ambriz and Hammen Earn KCAC Softball Weekly Honors

KANSAS — Macaela Ambriz of Sterling College and Keira Hammen of Kansas Wesleyan University have earned the KCAC Softball Pitcher and Player of the Week honors, respectively, the conference office announced Monday. The two student-athletes were selected for their performances from March 30-April 5 by a vote of conference sports information directors. All KCAC Player of the Week honors are presented by Athletic Solutions.

Pitcher of the Week

Macaela Ambriz - Sterling College

Fr. | P | Denton, Texas

Ambriz had standout performances from the center circle for the Warriors this week. Playing the top teams in the KCAC, Ambriz led her team to victory against Evangel and gave her team a fighting chance against Friends. In her win against Evangel, Ambriz pitched the full seven innings, only surrendering three hits and one run while striking out six batters for a WHIP of .57. In her start against Friends, she again pitched the whole game, surrendering five hits which resulted in only one run while throwing eight strikeouts. On the week, she totaled 15 strikeouts, with an ERA of 1.83 and a whip of .97.

Pitching	app	gs	w	l	sv	cg	ip	h	r	er	bb	k	k/7	hr	era	whip
Apr 1 at Friends (KS) L, 1-0 *	1	1	0	1	0	1	6.0	5	1	1	2	8	9.33	0	1.17	1.17
Apr 1 at Friends (KS) L, 8-4 *	1	0	0	0	0	0	2.1	3	2	2	1	1	3.00	0	6.00	1.71
Apr 3 vs. Evangel (MO) W, 2-1 *	1	1	1	0	0	1	7.0	3	1	1	1	6	6.00	0	1.00	.57
Conference	3	2	1	1	0	2	15.1	11	4	4	4	15	6.85	0	1.83	.98
Overall	3	2	1	1	0	2	15.1	11	4	4	4	15	6.85	0	1.83	.98

Fielding	g	tc	po	a	e	fpct	dp	sba	rcs	rcs%	pb	ci
Apr 1 at Friends (KS) L, 1-0 *	1	0	0	0	0	-	0	2	0	.000	0	0
Apr 1 at Friends (KS) L, 8-4 *	1	1	0	1	0	1.000	0	0	0	-	0	0
Apr 3 vs. Evangel (MO) W, 2-1 *	1	3	0	3	0	1.000	0	2	0	.000	0	0
Conference	3	4	0	4	0	1.000	0	4	0	.000	0	0
Overall	3	4	0	4	0	1.000	0	4	0	.000	0	0

Player of the Week

Keira Hammen - Kansas Wesleyan University

Jr. | INF | Rockwell City, Iowa

Hammen had a big week for the Coyotes, helping KWU to a pair of sweeps over Bethany and (RV) Oklahoma Wesleyan. She had at least one hit in every game, with two doubles against Bethany, and had a homer against Oklahoma Wesleyan to help lead the Coyotes. She got on base and drove runners home, playing a key role in KWU's successes this week. This is the second time this season Hammen has been named the KCAC Softball Player of the Week.

Hitting	g	ab	r	h	2b	3b	hr	rbi	bb	k	sb	cs	avg	obp	slg
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-2 *	1	2	2	1	0	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	.500	.750	.500
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-4 *	1	5	1	2	2	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	.400	.400	.800
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 6-5 *	1	3	1	2	0	0	1	2	1	0	0	0	.667	.750	1.667
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 5-4 *	1	4	0	2	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	.500	.500	.500
Conference	4	14	4	7	2	0	1	7	3	1	0	0	.500	.588	.857
Overall	4	14	4	7	2	0	1	7	3	1	0	0	.500	.588	.857

Extended Hitting	g	hbp	sf	sh	tb	xbh	hdp	go	fo	go/fo	pa
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-2 *	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	-	4
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-4 *	1	0	0	0	4	2	1	0	3	0.00	5
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 6-5 *	1	0	0	0	5	1	0	0	1	0.00	4
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 5-4 *	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	1	1	1.00	4
Conference	4	0	0	0	12	3	1	1	5	0.20	17
Overall	4	0	0	0	12	3	1	1	5	0.20	17

Fielding	g	tc	po	a	e	fpct	dp	sba	rcs	rcs%	pb	ci
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-2 *	1	7	7	0	0	1.000	0	0	0	-	0	0
Mar 31 at Bethany (KS) W, 10-4 *	1	12	11	0	1	.917	1	0	0	-	0	0
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 6-5 *	1	5	5	0	0	1.000	0	0	0	-	0	0
Apr 4 at Oklahoma Wesleyan W, 5-4 *	1	10	10	0	0	1.000	0	0	0	-	0	0
Conference	4	34	33	0	1	.971	1	0	0	-	0	0
Overall	4	34	33	0	1	.971	1	0	0	-	0	0

PREVIOUS 2026 KCAC SOFTBALL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOREES

Week 1 (Feb. 9): Maddy Meierer, Evangel (Pitcher) | Brookelynn Becker, Ottawa (Player)
Week 2 (Feb. 16): Maddy Meierer, Evangel (Pitcher) | Naomi Perkins, Ottawa (Player)
Week 3 (Feb. 23): Maddy Meierer, Evangel (Pitcher) | Cambell Riordan, Friends (Player)
Week 4 (March 2): Maddy Meierer, Evangel (Pitcher) | Mariah Cunningham, Sterling (Player)
Week 5 (March 9): McKayla Cotton, Avila (Pitcher) | Keira Hammen, Kansas Wesleyan (Player)
Week 6 (March 16): McKayla Cotton, Avila (Pitcher) | Emma Melvin, Ottawa (Player)
Week 7 (March 23): Madi Bentley, Evangel (Pitcher) | Maria Fory, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Player)
Week 8 (March 30): Addie Herrera, Kansas Wesleyan (Pitcher) | Brooklyn Purtell, Oklahoma Wesleyan (Player)

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ABOUT THE KANSAS COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and sponsors 28 varsity sports. Founded in 1890, the KCAC is the second oldest intercollegiate athletic conference in the country. As the conference home to 14 member institutions, the KCAC emphasizes commitment, cooperation, high achievement, and working towards a common goal in the act of competition. To keep up with the latest conference news, follow the KCAC on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram using the handle @kcacsports.

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