OU's Vest Named Big 12 Player Of The Week

Sophomore infielder Jessica Vest has earned Big 12 Player of the Week honors after helping No. 1 Oklahoma to a doubleheader sweep at Wichita State last Wednesday.

After scoring as a pinch runner in a 7-1 game one win, Vest took over in game two. In helping the Sooners secure a 16-1, five-inning victory, she went 2-2 with two home runs and a career-high seven runs batted in.

As part of a six-run second, Vest hit a three-run home run to left field to put OU on top 10-0. Following a scoreless third, Vest added her second home run of the game in the fourth when she followed sophomore Erica Sampson's single with an opposite-field smash to right field to extend the lead to 12-0.

With the bases loaded in the fifth inning, Vest, who was one homer shy of tying the school record, lifted a fly ball to deep center field. It was short of the fence, but it carried far enough to bring in the game's final run on a sacrifice fly.

The first multi-home run game of Vest's career comes in the midst of a resurgence for the Hollister, Calif., native. After recording just three singles and two RBI in 27 at-bats a year ago, Vest is now 5-10 this season with three home runs and 10 RBI.

The weekly Big 12 honors are the first of Vest's career, and she becomes the fifth different Sooner to be recognized by the conference this season. Between Keilani Ricketts and Michelle Gascoigne, the Sooners have won four of the eight weekly pitching honors handed out by the Big 12, while Vest teams with Lauren Chamberlain and Shelby Pendley to give OU four of the eight awards on the hitters' side.