Just a rookie, Phillips helped give the Storm plenty of reason to celebrate as Lake Erie’s program made the conference tournament field in its first attempt as a new Great Midwest institution.
Phillips sprinkled in a little of everything during an impressive week in which she hit .538 in six conference games against the likes of Malone, Alderson Broaddus and Davis & Elkins.
She displayed extra-base pop with three doubles and a homer, run scoring ability with nine to lead all players in the past week and patience to get on base with four walks and reaching on two hit-by-pitch sequences.
Phillips was a thorn in the side of Malone’s pitching staff as she went a perfect 3-for-3 in game one to start Monday’s doubleheader. The freshman outfielder was a triple shy of the cycle and with two RBI and two runs scored.
She only had one official at-bat in the next contest vs. the Pioneers, but made it count by lacing a two-run double.
Patience at the plate paid off as she drew four walks against Alderson Broaddus and crossed home plate four times. She had a hit in each game against conference tourney-qualifying Davis & Elkins as the Storm split; Phillips doubled and scored in the regular-season finale.
LEC enters the playoffs as winners in six of its last seven. In her first year at the collegiate level, Phillips upped her batting average to .361 in 27 games started this spring. She has seven doubles and has hit three home runs.