Jessica Leslie Garners National, Big 12 Honors

MISSION HILLS, Calif. -- Oklahoma outfielder Jessica Leslie has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the week for the week of March 7-13. She has also been named the Big 12 Player of the Week for the same time period.

Leslie, a senior from Raytown, Mo., hit .500 in the Sooners' six games last week while delivering 14 RBIs to help No. 8 Oklahoma win its 25th consecutive game.

“This is tremendous honor that I think is more representative of our team accomplishments,” said Leslie. “We have been playing so well lately and I just want to do my part. I am excited about the contributions I have been able to make but its a team effort and a ton of my teammates have to be on base for me to accomplish the things I did last week.”

She also scored 10 runs, had five doubles, 11 hits, one home run, three stolen bases and slugged at a .864 clip. Leslie had at least one RBI in all six games, while driving in a weekly high of four against Valparaiso (March 10). She also knocked in three in the opener of the doubleheader against Valparaiso and another three against UTEP (March 13). She also hit safely in all of the contests while recording multi-hit games on four occasions.

“Jessica is very deserving,” added Oklahoma head coach Patty Gasso. “She is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached and to see the things she is accomplishing not only this week, but this season is tremendous. She has developed herself into a player that can contribute anywhere in our lineup. Last week she filled in for Christina Enea, who has been an All-American, and had the best week of her career.”

Both honors are career first for Leslie. It marks the second consecutive week that OU has claimed the Big 12 Player weekly honor. Last week, Kristin Vesely claimed the honor after hitting .667 the previous week (March 8). Additionally, Kami Keiter won the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week on March 1.

OU leads all Big 12 schools with 40 Player/Pitcher weekly awards since the start of the Big 12 in 1996.

Leslie is just the second Sooner to garner the NFCA's weekly honor. The first OU player to claim the award was Leah Gulla (2000-03) on March 5, 2003.

On the season Leslie is hitting .364 with 23 runs, 15 doubles, four home runs, 34 RBI and eight stolen bases.

On Thursday, OU will begin play in the Kia Klassic with an 11 a.m. Central, game against No. 7 Louisiana Lafayette. The Ragin' Cajuns will get their shot at revenge against the Sooners, who knocked them off in the 2004 Region I Championship to advance to the Women's College World Series. OU will also play Syracuse and No. 21 Arizona State during pool play in the Klassic, which features 10 ranked teams in its 16 team field. Championship play at the Kia Klassic begins on Saturday.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Jessica Leslie Garners National, Big 12 Honors

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