Only a sophomore, Missouri native Linsey Button already has a few accomplishments under her belt. In 2013, she was named to the All-NCAC First Team, after putting up a .364 batting average, 36 total hits and three home runs. After a dominant week against Allegheny College, she has an NCAC Player of the Week award to add to her early collection. Button went 3-for-5 for the week, scoring six of the Tigers' 13 runs over their two-game stretch. Her six runs included a grand slam, a rare occurrence that brings four-scorers home in one bat. For her performance, here's what she had to say:
TDP Sports: Was last week's grand slam the first of your career? What does hitting a grand slam feel like?
Linsey Button (LB): It was the first grand slam of my career. It's something that I always thought would be awesome to do, but nothing I had really ever pushed for. I just figure that if you swing hard, good things will happen. A grand slam feels just like any other home run off the bat, but it feels even better knowing that our pitcher and defense get some breathing room.
TDP Sports: Your team is now first in the NCAC Conference. How confident are you going into the last conference game at Wooster College?
LB: I am always confident with our abilities going into these last conference games. If we continue to play how we have been, being aggressive and resilient, I know we can be successful. As a team, we have worked so hard all season to prepare for conference play, and it's great to see that work paying off.
TDP Sports: As a freshman, you were named to the NCAC-First Team. Do you ever feel pressure to perform when you're on the field? How do you deal with it?
LB: I don't feel a lot of pressure while I'm on the field. I know I have a great team supporting me, both offensively and defensively. We are each other's biggest support system. If someone isn't able to produce at the time, we all know someone is going to pick them up. It's good to remember that you're one of 17. You don't have to do everything.
TDP Sports: Take us to thirty minutes prior to a game - What are you doing? What are you listening to? Who's around?
LB: Thirty minutes prior to game time, we all are probably just finishing our hitting circuit and staring to throw. We always have our warm-up CD playing and are just joking around to stay loose before the game.