SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Furman shortstop Stephanie Cushing has been named Southern Conference Player of the Week while Samford pitcher Stephanie Royall has been named Pitcher of the Week for all games from March 16-22, the conference office announced Monday. Voting for the weekly awards are done by the league's softball sports information directors.
Cushing hit three home runs and drove in nine RBIs to help lead the Paladins to a 4-3 record on the week. Included in the three home runs was a pair of walk-off homers in victories over Towson and UNC Greensboro. The senior clubbed a fifth-inning, three-run home run to trigger the mercy rule in a 10-2 victory over the Tigers on Tuesday before hammering a grand slam to defeat the Spartans in game two of a Saturday doubleheader, 11-7.
Royall pitched two complete games and recorded a 0.54 ERA as she went 1-1 on the weekend in a series against Chattanooga. In Sunday’s finale, the junior pitched a shutout as the Bulldogs beat the Mocs, 6-0. The Mill Valley, Calif., native struck out 12 batters and gave up one earned run over the two games. Royall is now tied for first on the Bulldog career shutouts list with 14.
Also nominated for this week’s Player of the Week award were Chattanooga’s Tiffany Baker, College of Charleston’s Amber Shifflett, Western Carolina’s Mollie Fowler, Georgia Southern’s MacKenzie Williams, Samford’s Kylie Harmon, Appalachian State’s Sarah Rappe and UNC Greensboro’s Lyndsay Mouse.
Also nominated for this week’s Pitcher of the Week award were Appalachian State’s Kayla Richardson, Chattanooga’s Michelle Fuzzard, UNC Greensboro’s Hannah Angel, College of Charleston’s Terri Mesko, Furman’s Lana Mackey, Georgia Southern’s Brianna Streetmon and Western Carolina’s Lauren Ross.
Player of the Week
Feb. 9 ? Jessica Owens, Samford
Feb. 16 ? Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
Feb. 23 ? Katie Boyd, Appalachian State
March 4 ? Brittany Eason, Chattanooga
March 10 ? Shannon Howard, College of Charleston
March 16 ? Kristie Shifflet, College of Charleston
March 23 ? Stephanie Cushing, Furman
Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 9 ? Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga
Feb. 16 ? Amber Harrell, UNC Greensboro
Feb. 23 ? Ashley Stubbs, Appalachian State
March 4 ? Kandice Irwin, Chattanooga
March 10 ? Terri Mesko, College of Charleston
March 16 ? Brianna Streetmon, Georgia Southern
March 23 ? Stephanie Royall, Samford