STARKVILLE, Miss. – University of New Haven senior softball player Nicole Downs has been named the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II Player of the Week for the week ending Sunday, March 28, 2010.

Downs help lead the Charger to a perfect 6-0 week by going 11-for-13 with nine runs, five RBI’s, a double, three home runs, eight walks, no strikeouts and one stolen base. She boasted a .846 batting average, a 1.148 slugging percentage and a .870 on-base percentage.

Two of her three homeruns came against N.Y.I.T. on Thursday, helping to power UNH to the doubleheader sweep. Downs also led the Chargers to a pair of victories over Northeast-10 Conference foe Le Moyne College on Saturday afternoon, which included a 16-3 five-inning victory.

This season, Downs is averaging .478 at the plate with five home runs and 13 RBI’s. She currently holds the UNH record for career home runs, a record her and fellow senior Breanne Gleason broke last season.

Downs leads the Chargers back to action on Friday when they host Adelphi University for a NE-10 match up at the UNH softball complex. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.