KSU’s Sharon Swanson A-Sun P.O.W

Kennesaw State University Owls sophomore outfielder Sharon Swanson’s torrid start to the 2011 season was officially recognized on Monday, when she was named the Atlantic Sun Conference’s Player of the Week.Swanson went 10-for-15 (.667) with three home runs and eight RBIs in five games for the Owls (10-4) this week, who went 4-1 and whose wins included triumphs over Georgia Tech, Mississippi State, Bowling Green and Tennessee State.

Both of Swanson’s home runs came at big moments for the Black and Gold. Her grand slam against Georgia Tech on Wednesday provided all of her team’s offense in their 4-1 victory over the Yellow Jackets at Bailey Park, and her two-run shot against Mississippi State on Saturday put the Owls on top in the game for good. She capped off a spectacular offensive week with a 4-for-4 showing in the Owls’, 12-2, win over Tennessee State on Sunday, hitting her conference-leading sixth home run of the season.

The grand slam against Georgia Tech garnered national attention, as it was featured on ESPN as a Capital One Cup Impact Performance this week.

The spectacular week is part of what has been a terrific start to the 2011 campaign for Swanson. An Atlantic Sun Conference All-Freshman honoree in 2010, she has built on her early-career success, as she currently leads the A-Sun in home runs and RBIs (27), as well as slugging percentage (.933), and is second in the league in batting average (.489).

Her solid play in the Owls last four games of the week, part of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial, earned her and teammate Abbey Meixel all-tournament team honors.