SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Elon’s Carleigh Nester and Furman’s Lauren Collier have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the week, respectively, the league announced Monday. The selections are made by the Southern Conference office.
Nester went 2-for-2 with two her runs, two runs scored and four RBI against NC Central on April 23, which was her first career multi-homer game. The junior was 2-for-3 against NC State on April 24 and hit a two-run home run at Furman on April 27 for her third long ball in as many games. Nester has set a new single-season high in home runs with nine this year, including seven in the month of April. During SoCon play, the outfielder leads the team in hits (24), runs scored (14), RBI (20), home runs (five) and slugging percentage (.708) while ranking second in batting average (.369). She has also posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage throughout the season.
Junior Lauren Collier posted a 2-0 record and 0.00 earned run average in two outings this past week. The right-hander scattered four hits and allowed only two unearned runs while fanning nine batters without issuing a walk in the Paladins 6-2 victory over South Carolina State on Wednesday. In the only game of a rain-shortened series versus Elon, Collier limited the Phoenix to just two unearned runs on six hits in seven innings. She struck out five and walked only two batters to improve to 13-10 in the circle with a 1.84 ERA. For the week, Collier allowed just 10 hits, no earned runs and struck out 14 batters in 14 innings of work.
Also receiving nominations for player of the week were College of Charleston’s Kristy Giragosian, Furman’s Sieara Bishop and Georgia Southern’s Alexa Lewis.
Also nominated for pitcher of the week were College of Charleston’s Stephanie Saylors, Elon’s Chelsea White and Georgia Southern’s Sarah Purvis.
2013 Softball Player of the Week
Feb. 11 Lindsay Thomas, UNCG
Feb. 18 Danielle Vega, UNCG
Feb. 25 Tomeka Watson, Elon
Mar. 4 Lindsay Thomas, UNCG
Mar. 11 Allie Cashion, Appalachian State
Mar. 18 Sieara Bishop, Furman
Mar. 25 Taylor Jenkins, Furman
Apr. 1 Kasey Tydingco, Chattanooga
Apr. 8 Nikki Legg, Furman
Apr. 15 Tomeka Watson, Elon
Apr. 22 Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina
Apr. 29 Carleigh Nester, Elon
2013 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 11 Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 18 Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 25 Hope Klicker, College of Charleston
Mar. 4 Shelby Parker, Furman
Mar. 11 Mollie Hanson, Samford
Mar. 18 Alissa Schoelkopf, Appalachian State
Mar. 25 Lauren Collier, Furman
Apr. 1 Raeanne Hanks, UNCG
Apr. 8 Mallory Broome, Western Carolina
Apr. 15 Lauren Collier, Furman
Apr. 22 Shelby Scott, Samford
Apr. 29 Lauren Collier, Furman