Valparaiso senior infielder Sadie Conner (Washington, Ill./Washington) has been named the Horizon League Player of the Week after leading the Crusaders to a series victory at Green Bay this past weekend, culminating with her career record-tying home run in the sixth inning of the series finale.

Conner, who earns league weekly honors for the second time in her career, went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a pair of RBIs in the second game of the series, helping the Crusaders to an easy 12-0 victory over the Phoenix.  Included in the 2-for-3 effort was a two-run homer in the third inning, the senior’s eighth home run of the year and the 43rd round-tripper as a team for Valparaiso this season, breaking the program’s previous single-season mark of 42.

But Conner saved her best for last, dominating the series finale on Sunday morning.  She picked up an RBI single in her first at-bat and then drove in two more runs in the third inning with a double.  The senior registered another single in the fifth, eventually coming around to score, and then capped the day with a three-run homer in the sixth inning.  The home run, her ninth of the season, was also the 22nd of Conner’s career, tying her with Ashley Wolter atop the Crusaders’ all-time charts.  Conner went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and six RBIs in the 10-5 victory, her first career four-hit game and also setting a new career high for RBIs in a game.

For the week, Conner went 6-for-9 (.667) with five runs scored and eight RBIs.  Three of her six hits were of the extra-base variety, including the two four-baggers, as she closed the weekend with a 1.444 slugging percentage.  With the two homers, the senior has now gone yard seven times in Horizon League this season, leading all league players.  Conner and the Crusaders return to the field for a non-league showdown at #24/22 Notre Dame Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. CDT.