Bradley University Athletics

Bradley Softball Announces 2018 Award Winners

Duane Zehr

Softball 5/15/2018 10:05:00 AM

PEORIA, Ill. -- Senior catcher/utility Maria Schroeder was named Bradley Softball's 2018 Most Valuable Player in addition to garnering the team's Defensive MVP award announced by 10th-year head coach Amy Hayes Tuesday.

Sophomore first baseman Allison Apke was named the squad's Most Valuable Offensive Player, while freshman Vicki Zaluske was selected as the team's Most Improved Player in addition to earning Bradley Softball's 4D award in recognition of her desire, dedication, determination and discipline.

A Second-Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, Schroeder led the team with a .354 batting average and moved from third base to catcher midway through the season. Schroeder, who joined Julie Jehle as the only three-time First-Team MVC Scholar-Athletes in program history, ranked ninth in the MVC with a team-best .354 batting average and led the MVC with 39 runs scored. One of two players to rank among the top 20 in MVC history in both career runs and RBI, she finished her career second in school history in both categories.

During her final season on The Hilltop, Schroeder collected a team-best 58 hits and finished her career tied for third in Bradley history with 203 career hits. She drove in 30 runs and is the only player in school history with 40 or more hits in four different seasons. Schroeder also ranks among the top three in Bradley history in career doubles (3rd - 39) and homers (2nd - 17) in addition to holding the Bradley career walks record.

Apke was a First-Team All-MVC pick and First-Team Valley Scholar-Athlete after leading the league with 12 homers to tie the Bradley season home run mark. She also paced the Valley with a school record .699 slugging percentage and was second in the MVC with 44 RBI, which ranks as the third-best season total in school history.

Just the fourth player in MVC history to collect 11 doubles, 12 homers, 44 RBI and 25 or more walks in a season, Apke had 11 multi-hit outings during her sophomore campaign, which included a 15-game hit streak to tie for the second longest hit streak in program history and hit .353 this spring. She was named MVC Player of the Week on April 16 and is just the second player in program history with 30 runs and 40 or more RBI in a season.

Zaluske started 37 of the 42 games appeared in, making 23 starts in the middle infield, 11 in the outfield, one at third and two at designated player. She hit .242 on the season and ranked fourth on the team with 13 walks, owning a .352 on base percentage. Zaluske collected a season-best three hits in a 3-for-4 outing at Louisville.

In her debut, Zaluske came off the bench to collect a hit, one walk and two runs to help highlight a season-opening 8-0 victory over Saint Louis. In her only pinch hitting appearance of the season, she delivered a pinch hit double in a win against UMKC. Zaluske scored 16 runs on the season and started the final 15 games of 2018 at second base.

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Players Mentioned

#16 Allison Apke: IF; 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R

#17 Maria Schroeder: UTL/C; 5' 6"; Senior; R/R

#34 Vicki Zaluske: IF; Freshman; R/R

Players Mentioned

#16 Allison Apke
: 5' 6"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#17 Maria Schroeder
: 5' 6"; Senior; R/R
: UTL/C

#34 Vicki Zaluske
: Freshman; R/R
: IF

Bradley Softball Announces 2018 Award Winners

Players Mentioned

#16 Allison Apke

#17 Maria Schroeder

#34 Vicki Zaluske

Players Mentioned

#16 Allison Apke

#17 Maria Schroeder

#34 Vicki Zaluske