Men's Outdoor Track and Field Southern Conference

SoCon Announces April Athletes of the Month

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its April athletes of the month for baseball, men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s outdoor track and field, softball and men’s and women’s tennis Friday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.

BASEBALL
Player
Will Callaway, Appalachian State, Sr., SS
Appalachian State shortstop Will Callaway hit safely in all 16 of his contests in April, turning in a .435 batting average. The senior from Greenville, S.C., had 10 extra-base hits, including six doubles and four home runs, to go with 21 RBIs and 19 runs scored. He was also a perfect 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts. Callaway had 10 multi-hit games in the month, including five straight from April 12-17. He had four games in which he had three hits, including back-to-back contests in Appalachian State’s series win over Georgia Southern, which saw Callaway hit .667 with a homer, two doubles and eight RBIs. He did similar damage in the series against UNCG, hitting .533 with a homer, six RBIs and five runs scored, again posting consecutive three-hit games. Callaway drove in two or more runs in five of his 16 games, including a career-high five RBIs in a 9-5 win over Georgia Southern. He slugged .696 for the month and his 16-game hitting streak is Appalachian State’s longest of the season.

Other nominees: Brandon Murray (College of Charleston), Joe Jackson (The Citadel), Ryan Lowe (Davidson), Ryan Kinsella (Elon), Robbie Dodds (Georgia Southern), C.K. Irby (Samford), Aaron Attaway (Western Carolina) and Matthew Ramsay (Wofford).

Pitcher
Austin Pritcher, The Citadel, Sr., RHP
The Citadel’s Austin Pritcher went 2-0 with a 1.21 ERA in April to earn his second player of the month award of the season. Also the February winner, Pritcher allowed just four earned runs in four starts in April, striking out 20 batters against just six walks. The senior right-hander turned in two scoreless outings, not allowing a run in seven innings of work in an 11-0 win over Georgia Southern on April 12 and then topping that with a complete-game shutout against Furman on April 26, which earned him SoCon Player of the Week honors. Pritcher allowed two runs each in quality starts against Elon and Appalachian State, taking no decisions both times. The James Island, S.C., native allowed just four extra-base hits among the 20 hits he surrendered in 29 2/3 innings in the month. His April performance dropped his season ERA from 3.24 to a league-best 2.40. He also leads the league with a .227 opponents’ batting average. Pritcher, who is 5-2 this season, is the SoCon’s active career wins leader with 19.

Other nominees: Jamie Nunn (Appalachian State), Ryan West (College of Charleston), Ryan Lowe (Davidson), Kyle Webb (Elon), Justin Hess (Georgia Southern), C.K. Irby (Samford), Jordan Smith (Western Carolina) and Jesse Morris (Wofford).


MEN’S GOLF
Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston, Fr.
College of Charleston freshman Josh Lorenzetti posted a pair of top-10 finishes in April, including winning the Southern Conference Men’s Golf Championship. The rookie from Columbia, S.C., got his month started at the Gary Koch Invitational, tying for sixth in the 75-player field with a 4-under 212, including a second-round 69, at the Old Memorial Club in Tampa, Fla. Lorenzetti helped the Cougars to a sixth-place finish in the 14-team field, which included seven top-50 programs. At the SoCon Championship on the Ralston Creek Course at Daniel Island Club in Daniel Island, S.C., later in the month, Lorenzetti fired a 1-under 215 (76-69-70) to take medalist honors, finishing as the only player under par for the tournament and helping the Cougars finish third. Lorenzetti was paired with Chattanooga’s Steven Fox and Davidson’s Todd Eckstein on the final day, and the trio shared the lead heading to the 17th hole. Lorenzetti birdied the hole to take a one-stroke lead and made par on the 18th to claim the win. He was named to the SoCon All-Freshman Team and was the league’s Co-Freshman of the Year. For the month, four of his six rounds were under par and he turned in a 71.17 stroke average.

Other nominees: Richard Fountain (Davidson), Taylor Coalson (UNCG), Casey O’Toole (Samford) and Steven Fox (Chattanooga).


WOMEN’S GOLF
Agathe Sauzon, Chattanooga, So.
Chattanooga sophomore Agathe Sauzon turned in two top-10 finishes in April, winning the Southern Conference Women’s Golf Championship to help the Mocs to the team title. The Valence, France, native tied for eighth in the 104-player field at the Web.com Intercollegiate to open her month, firing a 1-over 217 that included two rounds at even-par. The Mocs took 12th in the competitive 20-team field, which included six top-50 ranked teams and four top-100 individuals. At the SoCon tournament at Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head Island, S.C., Sauzon picked up her first collegiate win in a sudden-death playoff after finishing at 2-over 218, tied with College of Charleston’s Mary Chandler Bryan. On the first playoff hole, Bryan missed a 30-feet birdie putt, while Sauzon landed her approach three feet from the pin and finished off with a short birdie putt for the victory. Sauzon was Chattanooga’s third straight medalist at the event, while the Mocs won the team title for the fourth straight year. For the month, Sauzon posted a 72.5 stroke average and topped individual golfers ranked Nos. 5, 37, 55 and 84 nationally.

Other nominees: Eraina Manor (The Citadel), Fanny Cnops (UNCG) and Natalie Mitchell (Samford).


MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Brandon Hairston, Western Carolina, Sr.
Western Carolina sprinter Brandon Hairston helped the Catamounts to the team title at the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships, winning four events en route to being named Most Outstanding Track Performer. The Walkertown, N.C., senior won the 100-meter dash and the 200m and was part of winning 4x100m and 4x400m relays. His time of 10.52 in the 100m was the second-fastest in the league this season. Hairston has the top SoCon times in the 200m (21.13) and 400m (47.40), setting both at the Auburn Tiger Classic early in the month. He was also part of the 4x400m relay that turned in the top league time of the season at the Penn Relays last week with a mark of 3:12.19. Hairston was also on the 4x100m relay that took eighth at the Penn Relays. Hairston was also the outdoor track athlete of the month in March and the indoor track athlete of the month in February.


Field
Jared Stalling, Appalachian State, Sr.
Appalachian State thrower Jared Stalling repeated as field athlete of the month, winning three titles at the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships to be named Most Outstanding Field Performer for the second straight season. The Greensboro, N.C., senior won the shot put and discus titles for the second straight year and added the hammer title for the throws sweep this season. Stalling took the shot with a throw of 16.01 meters (52’6.5”) and turned in a heave of 49.91m (163’9”) to win the discus. His winning hammer toss of 56.96m (186’10”) is the top mark in the SoCon this season by more than six meters.


WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Sinead Haughey, Furman, So.
Furman distance runner Sinead Haughey was named the Most Outstanding Track Performer at the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Statesboro, Ga., after winning a pair of events. The sophomore from Central, S.C., won the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters, setting an Eagle Track & Field Complex at Erk Russell Athletic Park record in the 10,000m with a time of 35:40.25. She claimed the 5,000m in a time of 17:16.84 and scored 20 of Furman’s 32 team points at the meet. Haughey has the third-best 5,000m time in the SoCon this season, which she achieved with a second-place showing at the Duke Invitational in a time of 17:03.81 on April 5.

Field
Alisha Bradshaw, Western Carolina, So.
Western Carolina thrower Alisha Bradshaw won a pair of titles at the SoCon Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Statesboro, Ga., in April, earning Most Outstanding Field Performer honors. Bradshaw won the shot put with a throw of 14.20 meters (46’7.25”) and set a new meet record with a throw of 46.68m (153’2”) to win the discus. She also finished second in the hammer throw to help the Catamounts claim the team title, personally accounting for 28 points. The following week at the prestigious Penn Relays, the sophomore from Salisbury, N.C., finished sixth in the discus with a school-record heave of 47.88m (157’1”) and eighth in the shot, again eclipsing her SoCon meet effort with a throw of 14.33m (47’0.25”). She has the top SoCon marks in the shot put and discus this season and is second in the hammer with her throw of 53.08m (174’2”) at the SoCon meet. Bradshaw was also the outdoor field athlete of the month in March and the indoor field athlete of the month in February.


SOFTBALL
Player
Carleigh Nester, Elon, Jr., CF
Elon center fielder Carleigh Nester hit .426 in April, smashing seven home runs and five doubles among her 20 hits to slug .979 in her 15 games. The junior from Kernersville, N.C., scored 13 runs, drove in 18, was 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts and didn’t commit an error in 29 chances in the outfield. Nester had six multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 effort against league-leading Appalachian State on April 7 in which she had three doubles, matching the NCAA single-game record. Nester also hit home runs in all three games against the Mountaineers, going 6-for-12 with five RBIs in the series. Nester had a pair of four-RBI games, going 2-for-3 with a double and four driven in against Western Carolina on April 13 and going 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of homers to drive in four against North Carolina Central on April 23. She also homered against Samford and Furman, driving in a pair of runs in each contest. Nester, who opened the month with a seven-game hitting streak, was the SoCon Player of the Week on April 29.

Other nominees: Sarah Warnock (Appalachian State), Kelsey Hodgson (College of Charleston), Rachel Bickert (Samford), Sam Taylor (Chattanooga) and Taylor Sigmon (Western Carolina).

Pitcher
Stephanie Saylors, College of Charleston, Sr., RHP
College of Charleston right-hander Stephanie Saylors went 8-0 with a 0.80 ERA in eight April starts, leading the Cougars to a 17-2 month that included a 13-game winning streak. Saylors did not allow more than two earned runs in any start and allowed just five for the month in 44 innings pitched. The Easley, S.C., senior threw five complete games and held her opponents to just a .226 average, striking out 30 batters and walking just seven. Saylors threw two shutouts on the month, blanking Canisius with a six-hitter on April 2 and two-hitting Coastal Carolina in a 9-0, five-inning win on April 23. Saylors also picked up the win on her Senior Day, striking out six and allowing just an unearned run in seven as the Cougars took a 2-1, walk-off win over Western Carolina on April 27. She had four appearances in which she didn’t walk a batter, including a six-strikeout, no-walk win over North Carolina Central on April 10. Saylors also earned wins over Samford, Chattanooga, South Carolina State and Savannah State in April.

Other nominees: Alissa Schoelkopf (Appalachian State), Lauren Collier (Furman), Sarah Purvis (Georgia Southern), Shelby Scott (Samford) and Taylor Deason (Chattanooga).


MEN’S TENNIS
Fares Kilani, Samford, Fr.
Samford freshman Fares Kilani went a combined 13-2 in singles and doubles in April, helping the Bulldogs to a 6-2 team mark and the Southern Conference Men’s Tennis Championship title. The Tunis, Tunisia, native was a perfect 8-0 in singles play at No. 3 on the month, winning six of those matches in straight sets. He was at his best in the SoCon tournament, topping Davidson’s Chris Mark 6-1, 6-2 and College of Charleston’s Crescente Lesser 6-2, 6-2 before taking down Elon’s Robert Lindgren 6-4, 6-4 in the title match. In doubles play, he teamed with Samford senior Alex Sajonz at No. 3 to go 5-2, with all five wins being by an 8-4 score or better, highlighted by an 8-1 win over The Citadel’s Matthew McGill and Elliott Sperr in the regular-season finale. Samford, which entered the tournament as the No. 2 seed, downed top-seeded Elon 4-3 in the title bout to earn its second NCAA bid in the last three seasons.

Other nominees: Zach Bost (Appalachian State), Sebastian Lopez (College of Charleston), David Orces (The Citadel), Andrew Mellow (Furman) and Rayane Djouad (Georgia Southern).


WOMEN’S TENNIS
Brooke McAmis, College of Charleston, Fr.
College of Charleston freshman Brooke McAmis helped the Cougars to an 8-0 record in April, including a fifth straight SoCon Women’s Tennis Championship crown. The Greensboro, N.C., native went 7-1 in singles play in the month, notching all seven of her wins in straight sets by dominant scores and all but one at No. 3. In her seven wins, McAmis allowed no more than three games in any set. Five times, she allowed three or fewer games total, highlighted by a 6-0, 6-0 win over Wofford’s Julia Paulson on April 12. The following day, she rolled to a 6-1, 6-0 win over Western Carolina’s Sara Ruiz Pajares at No. 2, and she closed her month with a 6-1, 6-1 win over No. 66 Elon’s Viviana Stavreva in the SoCon tournament title bout. McAmis opened her month with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Furman’s Katherine Oudin and followed that up with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Samford’s Jessica Northcutt. In the semifinals of the SoCon tourney, McAmis clinched the match against UNCG with a 6-2, 6-2 win over Alex Whitehead. McAmis was 1-1 in doubles play in April, playing both matches at No. 3. She teamed with Irene Viana for an 8-3 win over Samford’s Northcutt and Emily Mallory on April 6.

Other nominees: Gabriela Celi (Appalachian State), Katherine Oudin (Furman) and Paola Garrido (Georgia Southern).


Southern Conference April Athletes of the Month
Baseball – Player    Will Callaway, Appalachian State
Baseball – Pitcher    Austin Pritcher, The Citadel
Men’s Golf    Josh Lorenzetti, College of Charleston
Women’s Golf    Agathe Sauzon, Chattanooga
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – Track    Brandon Hairston, Western Carolina
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – Field    Jared Stalling, Appalachian State
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – Track    Sinead Haughey, Furman
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – Field    Alisha Bradshaw, Western Carolina
Softball – Player    Carleigh Nester, Elon
Softball – Pitcher    Stephanie Saylors, College of Charleston
Men’s Tennis    Fares Kilani, Samford
Women’s Tennis    Brooke McAmis, College of Charleston

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