SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference named Furman’s Amber Kiser as the Player of the Week with Elon’s Melanie Helterbran being named Pitcher of the Week for the week ending March 26.

Kiser, a sophomore from Huntersville, N.C., went 9-for-17 with six runs and two home runs as she led Furman to a 3-2 week including a series win over UNC Greensboro this past weekend.  The centerfielder went 2-for-4 with an inside the park homer in a 5-2 win at Georgia State on March 21.  Kiser recorded another home run in the league opener on Saturday and went 2-for-3, scoring both of Furman’s runs in the 2-0 win over UNCG.  In the second game of the doubleheader, she drove in the game winning run in the sixth inning and went 2-for-3 in the Lady Paladins’ 3-1 win.  She batted .529 for the week and knocked in four runs.

Helterbran, a sophomore from Sewell, N.J., posted a 0.91 ERA and tossed 23.0 innings to go 3-0 for the Phoenix last week.  She pitched all 10 innings in Elon’s 4-2 victory over College of Charleston on March 24, giving up just two runs on five hits and fanned five batters.  Helterbran finished the series recording a four-hit shutout against the Cougars on Sunday.  On March 20 she gave up just one run on four hits in seven innings in the 5-1 win over Jacksonville State.  Helterbran also added five hits, four RBI and a home run at the plate for Elon. 

Other top performers for Player of the Week include Appalachian State’s Diana Cook, Chattanooga’s Jeannie Cochran, Elon’s Debbie Ziegler, Georgia Southern’s Lindsey Hopkins, UNCG’s Adriane Audley and Western Carolina’s Stephanie Beatty.

Other top performers for Pitcher of the Week include Appalachian State’s Yancy Moose, Chattanooga’s Ashley Frizzell, Furman’s Blake Murray, Georgia Southern’s Melissa Laliberte and Western Carolina’s Lauren Ross.