Autumn Owen Tabbed as Big South Freshman of the Week for Fourth Time
April 29, 2019 | Softball
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Autumn Owen received her fourth Freshman of the Week award from the Big South Conference on Monday afternoon after leading Gardner-Webb to a 2-1 record in its final series of 2019.
Owen (Mill Spring, N.C. / Polk County HS) helped the Runnin' Bulldogs split a twinbill with Hampton on Saturday and led the 'Dogs to an 11-1 win in Sunday's rubber match.
The Polk County HS product went 8-for-12 at the plate with three doubles and batted in two runs. In an 11-3 win in the nightcap of Saturday's doubleheader, her RBI double to right field in the top of the first inning scored Andria Booth, and on Sunday, she was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, allowing Callie Thornton to score.
The four-time Freshman of the Week honoree has quickly made a name for herself as one of the top newcomers in collegiate softball. On April 18, Owen was named to the Schutt Sports/NFCA Freshman of the Year Top 25 List, making this the second straight year that the Runnin' Bulldogs have been represented.
Owen finds herself ninth in the country in sacrifice flies and 30th in both runs batted in (50) and total bases (113). She sits just outside the top 40 in total bases, having collected 113 in 52 games this season. The Mill Spring, N.C. native led the Runnin' Bulldogs in multiple statistical categories in her inaugural season in the red and black including: batting average (.384), home runs (13), RBI (50), total bases (113), slugging percentage (.774), walks (25) and sacrifice flies (5).
Within the Big South Conference, she has gained respect as a feared hitter and ranks second in five different categories: home runs, RBI, total bases, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.
Owen led Gardner-Webb to a 30-24 overall record in 2019. This season marked the first time since 2007 that the Runnin' Bulldogs reached the 30-win mark. During the '07 campaign, Gardner-Webb finished 35-27 overall and had an 10-8 mark for its second-to-last season in the Atlantic Sun.
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