ST. PAUL, Minn. - Concordia University junior Anna Bjorlin has been named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player of the Week, announced by the NFCA on Wednesday.  Bjorlin is being honored for her performances during the week ending April 19, 2009.  She is the second Concordia athlete in softball history to be deemed the National Player of the Week.

View the complete NFCA release at www.nfca.org.

Anna Bjorlin had an impressive week at the plate for the Golden Bears, hitting .773 with 17 hits in 22 at-bats.  She had three doubles, a triple and a home run in her streak for a 1.136 slugging percentage and a .783 on-base percentage.

On Sunday against the University of Mary, the Hermantown, Minn., native set a new Concordia single game hits record, going 5-for-5 with four singles and a three-run home run.  She was also perfect at the plate against Upper Iowa, going 4-for-4 with three singles and a double, and a 3-for-3 game against Northern State with two singles, a triple and a walk.  After going hitless in the Golden Bears' first game of the week, Bjorlin was put out just two additional times through five remaining games.  She put up multiple hits in each of the last five games, helping Concordia to a 6-0 league record on the week.  Bjorlin also stole five bases in as many attempts and led the team with nine RBI.

Joining Bjorlin in national recognition this week is Central Missouri's Megan Leonard, named the National Pitcher of the Week.  Leonard tied the NCAA Division II record for consecutive scoreless innings pitched last week, adding 14 innings to her record 83-2/3 scoreless streak before allowing a leadoff home run on Saturday against Washburn.  For the week, Leonard twirled 21.0 innings, striking out 26 while walking two and allowing one run for a 0.33 ERA.  She leads the nation with a 0.41 ERA.

The first and only other Concordia softball player to be named National Player of the Week was current CU assistant coach Kristen Schmidt.  Schmidt was named the NFCA Player of the Week on April 13, 2005.  She batted .450 (9-20) during the week and compiled a 0.23 ERA in five appearances.  Schmidt pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout against South Dakota State.  She had two 10 strikeout games and a 15-K performance on the week.