KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Anna Maness of Brenau (Ga.) has been named the NAIA National Softball Pitcher of the Week and Molly Knight of Asbury (Ky.) has been NAIA National Softball Player of the Week, the National Office announced Tuesday. Maness and Knight are the first honorees of the 2010 season based on their performances from March 8-14. The pair was chosen out of a pool of conference player of the week selections among 20 conferences.

Maness tossed 29 scoreless innings to defeat two Southern States Athletic Conference opponents and then pitched a four-hit, 3-0 shutout against eighth-ranked Martin Methodist (Tenn.) on March 13. The freshman hurler from Seagrove, N.C., picked up her first save of her Brenau career in a 3-2 win over Central Methodist (Mo.) on March 12.

The rookie ranks third nationally in total innings pitched (96), fourth in wins (11) and 12th in total batters struck out (77).

Maness is the first Brenau athlete to receive NAIA National Player of the Week honors.  Upon hearing of the award, Coach Devon Thomas said, "What a great honor for Anna and for our program.  This kind of recognition will certainly help us in getting national raters' attention as we strive for our goal to return to the National Championships in May."