Gator Softball's Cheyenne Coyle Named SEC Freshman of the Week
Monday, May 2, 2011 | Softball
Florida shortstop Cheyenne Coyle picked up SEC Freshman of the Week honors, her first career accolade as a Gator, announced by the league office in Birmingham Monday. Coyle and the No. 5 Gators capped off their final regular-season conference road swing this past weekend, sweeping South Carolina with scores of 5-0, 6-1 and 6-1 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, at Beckham Field in Columbia to improve to 43-8 overall, 18-7 in the SEC.
Coyle registered a team-leading .429 batting clip, going 3-for-7 with two homers and five RBI in the series, boasting a 1.286 slugging percentage over the weekend with one stolen base. Coyle has been a consistent contributor to Florida's left side in the field, also peaking at the right time in the batter's box. The former Chatsworth High School player has six homers in Florida's last three conference series to combine for half of her homers this season (12). The West Hills, Calif., native leads all Florida freshmen this season at the plate and has started in all 51 games for the Orange and Blue. Her two-run bomb Friday in the series opener with South Carolina gave UF its first two runs and the Gators wouldn't look back en route to a shutout of the Gamecocks. Coyle is currently on a five-game hit streak, tying her second-longest this season, and currently ranks third in the Gator record book for home runs for a freshman (12), second in slugging percentage (.612) and second in on-base percentage (.456) through 2011 so far.
In addition to her contributions against USC on the road, Coyle also led the Gators in the weekend series with Auburn April 15-17 in Auburn, Ala., turning in a .667 batting average and clocking three round-trippers in UF's three-game series with the Tigers, including a career-high two in the first contest of the April 16 doubleheader.
The recognition for Coyle marks Florida's third-consecutive week with a conference Player of the Week, its 10th regular-season individual honor overall, both in the league and nationally.
Florida will take to the field for its last four regular-season contests this week, beginning with Sunshine State rival FSU Wednesday at 5 p.m. at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium. The Gators will then host SEC Eastern Division foe Tennessee in a critical conference clash May 6-8 at home in Gainesville. For all broadcast and game information, news and results, visit www.GatorZone.com/softball.
2011 UF SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
2/14/11: Stephanie Brombacher, SEC Pitcher of the Week
2/21/11: Stephanie Brombacher, SEC Pitcher of the Week
2/28/11: Hannah Rogers, SEC Pitcher of the Week
3/21/11: Kelsey Bruder, SEC Player of the Week
4/18/11: Kelsey Bruder, SEC Player of the Week
4/25/11: Kelsey Bruder, SEC Player of the Week
5/2/11: Cheyenne Coyle, SEC Freshman of the Week
2011 UF NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS
2/22/11: Stephanie Brombacher, NFCA National Player of the Week
3/1/11: Michelle Moultrie, USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week
4/26/11: Kelsey Bruder, USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Week
