Softball's Lindsey Rains named Big Ten Player of the Week

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - A sophomore outfielder was named Big Ten Player of the Week.

Lindsey Rains earned the Big Ten honor for the Lobo Class in Albuquerque, New Mexico last weekend.

The California native hit .556 to help the Boilers get off to a perfect 4-0 start to the 2012 season.

Rains drove in five RBI, scoring five runs, three stolen bases and a home run. Rains reached base in 10 out of 14 plate appearances. She had a .889 slugging percentage and .714 on-base percentage.

In the Bryant season opener, the sophomore went 1-for-1 with two walks, two runs and an RBI, scoring the game winner. She picked up another run and RBI with a pair of hits against Northern Colorado. A walk and a hit by pitch put her on base against Central Arkansas.

She capped the weekend with a 2-for-3 effort in the Lobo Classic finale against New Mexico, including a two-run home run in the first inning and the game-tying RBI in the fourth. Defensively, she also made good on all four chances in the outfield.

This is Rains' first Big Ten Player of the Week honor. This is also a first for a Purdue player since Andie Varsho in March 2011.

The Boilermakers return to the field on Friday when they take on Belmont and UT-Martin at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tennessee.