FMU's Birchmeier gloves Player of the Week award

Senior outfielder Jessica Birchmeier has been named the Peach Belt Conference women's softball Player of the Week for the opening week of the 2010 season.

A native of Port Richey, Fla., Birchmeier hit .538 in four games as the Patriots posted a 3-1 mark at the Early Bird Tournament in Aiken.

She registered a double, a home run, and six runs batted in, and did not commit an error in the field.  She had a .600 on-base percentage and a .846 slugging percentage.  She hit safely in all four games and scored three times.

Included in her totals was a 3-for-4 effort with the homer and three RBIs in the season-opening win over Mount Olive College.

Earlier this year, Birchmeier was named to the 2010 PBC Preseason All-Conference Team.

The Patriots open their Peach Belt schedule on Saturday when they host Georgia Southwestern State University for a doubleheader at noon.  Admission is free.

     Jessica Birchmeier