Louisville, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) has named Angelo State shortstop Laylonna Applin its Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II Player of the Week for her standout performances to open the season for the nation's 11^th-ranked team at the DII First Pitch Invitational in Conroe.

This comes after Applin's first-ever weekly honor at the conference level. She becomes the first Rambelle to win National Player of the Week honors since former Rambelle Paxton Scheurer did so on March 22^nd, 2022.

The Health Science Professions student hit .667 for the week and slugged 1.733, driving in a Division II-best 14 runs.

Applin had ten hits, eight of which went for extra bases.

Against Regis, she went 2-for-3 with a triple and three RBI before tripling against Pittsburg State.

Facing No. 21 Colorado Mesa, the Health Science Professions sophomore went 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, and three RBI; she followed that with a 2-for-3 performance against Colorado School of Mines, hitting a home run and driving in two runs.

The sophomore closed her weekend with a 3-for-3 performance against Southeastern Oklahoma. She doubled twice, homered, and drove in six runs in the Rambelles' 10-1 win over the Savage Storm.

The Rambelles are home this weekend to host the ASU George and Ola McCorkle Challenge Presented by West Texas Steel.