March 28, 2011

IRVING, Texas - University of Memphis junior first baseman Jessica Phillips was named the Conference USA co-Softball Hitter of the Week on Monday.

It is the second weekly honor this season for Phillips who was also named C-USA Hitter of the Week to open the 2011 season. She shares this week's honor with Houston's Melissa Gregson.

Phillips made league history by blasting a trio of home runs in the Tigers' finale against UTEP, the most bombs in a league game by a single player. She finished the week with nine RBI to help Memphis sweep the Miners on the road for the first time in school history.

The three home runs in game three set a school record and included a walk-off grand slam in the sixth inning. It is the third multi-homer game of the season for Phillips and fourth of her career.

The Chattanooga, Tenn., native set a school record with 12 total bases in the game and tied for third with six RBI. For the week, Phillips finished with nine RBI, four runs scored, three home runs and a triple, while boasting a .455 batting average. She carried a 1.455 slugging percentage and .538 on base percentage in the three games.

Phillips leads the team with nine home runs and 25 RBI this year. She is batting a team best .297 and has scored 15 runs. The Girls Preparatory School product hit the fourth grand slam in school history and is currently fourth all-time in school history for most home runs in a season with nine, three away from matching the record.

The conference weekly honor is the fourth of the season for Memphis - Carly Hummel, pitcher (Feb. 14), Janelle Valle, pitcher (March 14) and Jessica Phillips, hitter (Feb. 14 and March 28).

Houston's Amanda Crabtree was named the league's pitcher of the week for the third time this season.

Memphis (21-7, 6-3 C-USA) will play its next five games at home at the Tiger Softball Complex. The Tigers will host a three-game league series with Tulsa on Saturday and Sunday and a doubleheader with Alabama State next Wednesday, April 6.