Bunch named softball MVP of Missouri Valley Conference

Sammey Bunch is the player of the year of the Missouri Valley Conference, it was announced Wednesday.

It's the third time in as many years Bunch (Fatima High School), a Northern Iowa junior, has been named an All-MVC first-team honoree.

Bunch ended the regular season as the conference leader in home runs (16) and slugging percentage (.837). She is tied for 25th and 18th, respectively, in NCAA Division I in those categories.

Other categories Bunch led the MVC in include total bases (123) and on-base percentage (.511). The 123 total bases is tied for 26th nationally and the on-base percentage ranks 33rd.

Bunch enters the MVC Tournament, which began Wednesday at Bradley in Peoria, Ill., hitting 59-for-147 (.401) with 48 RBI, 25 walks and just 12 strikeouts in 48 games.

Northern Iowa (26-22, 16-10 MVC), the No. 3 seed in the tournament, will face either sixth-seeded Illinois State or No. 10 seed Valparaiso at 6:30 p.m. today in the quarterfinals.

The winner of that game will face No. 2 seed Southern Illinois at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

The championship game is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday.