SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—South Dakota junior third baseman Aleesia Sainz has been named the TicketSmarter Summit League Softball Player of the Week for the period ended March 13. It is the first such honor for Sainz, who hails from Casa Grande, Arizona.
 
Sainz, the league leader in home runs, added two to her 2022 tally this week during a tournament hosted by Memphis. She hit a solo home run and doubled during a 2-for-3 performance in the opening game against Central Arkansas. She belted a three-run homer later in the day against Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Sainz totaled four hits while leading the team with four RBIs and five runs scored in four games in Memphis. In addition to her lead in home runs, Sainz leads the Summit in slugging (.820), is second in on-base percentage (.468) and has the fourth-most RBIs (18).
 
South Dakota continues play Tuesday with a game against the Saint Louis Billikens in Missouri.