LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Ouachita junior Jordyn Merrett was voted the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Player of the Week, elevating her standout performance to earn national recognition at the tail end of her junior campaign.

Merrett was locked in to dominate an immaculate week at the plate, going 9-for-11 while posting an absurd .818 batting average, along with a 3.040 OPS. She collected 24 total bases, drove in 13 RBI and scored nine runs for the Tigers, while also getting walked more times than she got out. The Wylie, Texas native blasted five home runs across five games, completing the home run cycle in the rivalry series against Henderson State. 

"She's never stopped working all year," Ouachita head softball coach Jeff Jackson said. "It was nice to see her get going. She basically in one week had a full season with her performance. She's confident at the plate, so that's just a testament to her constant work ethic and consistency in the cages."

The awards are voted on by the NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll Committee, which features two member coaches from each of the NCAA's eight regions. For the junior, the recognition comes at a pivotal moment in the season as Merrett's breakout week stands as a defining chapter in Ouachita's 2026 season. 

"It's ideal. It's perfect timing," Merrett said. "We have been working for this point of our season for a long time. Winning the last five series is a big testament of how hard we've been working and how excited we are to go to the tournament to showcase ourselves a little differently than we have in the past."

Her production fueled the Tigers to their first Great American Conference Tournament berth since 2022. Ouachita has claimed five straight series with six wins in its last seven games. Last Tuesday, Merrett was flawless in a sweep over Central Baptist and went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with four runs and three RBI. Her towering two-run home run to left-center set the tone for a five-homer showcase by the Tigers. 

"The girls deserve it," Coach Jackson said. "When we talk about anybody's performance in the lineup on a national scale, it is a result of the entire team. They are in the cages with their teammates all week long, so what they do is a result of a team effort."

It was under the brightest lights of the cross-street rivalry series where her impact became undeniable. In the opener of the Battle of the Ravine series against Henderson State, Ouachita found itself trailing 10-6 in the fifth inning after giving up a grand slam. With the bases loaded and no outs just moments later, Merrett mauled a no-doubt grand slam over the left field wall to level the score at 10-10, igniting the comeback victory. 

"As a junior, I look to her as a leader on the team," Jackson said. "For her to get hot right now and see the ball like she's seeing it is a huge lift to our lineup."

Merrett homered three times in Saturday's doubleheader, showcasing her ability to drive the ball to all parts of the park. In the series finale, she capped her excellent performance with a three-run homer that helped power a 9-0 run-rule victory to clinch the series. Little did she know that final blast would complete the rare home run cycle for Merrett, who wasn't fully aware until it was accomplished. 

Ouachita hosts Southeastern Oklahoma State in the final home series at Langston Field. The series opener is scheduled on Friday at 4 p.m.