SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Southern Conference announced its March 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 Thursday, highlighting excellence among student-athletes during the month.


BASEBALL
Player
Adam Martin, Western Carolina, Sr., C/OF
Western Carolina catcher/outfielder Adam Martin hit .415 in 17 March games, driving in 35 runs and scoring 20. He hit eight home runs, five doubles and a triple as more than half of his 27 hits in the month went for extra bases. The Marietta, Ga., senior opened his month with three straight multi-hit games, including a 4-for-5 performance with three RBIs and three runs scored in the Catamounts’ win over No. 15 Clemson, in which he fell a triple short of the cycle. After three hitless games, Martin finished his month on an 11-game hitting streak, turning in multiple hits in six of those contests. He was 7-for-12 with eight runs and 12 RBIs in WCU’s three-game sweep of Rider, turning in two homers and a career-high eight RBIs in the middle game of the series and earning SoCon player of the week honors. After a two-hit game against East Tennessee State, Martin hit safely in each of Western Carolina’s first six conference games of the season. He was a combined 5-for-12 with nine RBIs and three home runs in the Catamounts’ sweep of Wofford, posting his second two-homer game of the month in the middle game of the series. Martin was also flawless in the field in 82 total chances.

Others nominated: Tyler Zupcic (Appalachian State), Bo Thompson (The Citadel), Forrest Brandt (Davidson), Casey Jones (Elon), Aaron Mizell (Georgia Southern), Sean Guite (UNCG), Tyler Filliben (Samford) and Alec Paradowski (Wofford).

Pitcher
Lucas Bakker, Elon, Jr., RHP
Elon right-hander Lucas Bakker was a two-time SoCon pitcher of the week in March, as he went 4-1 with a 1.18 ERA in the month, striking out 25 and walking just five. After opening the month with a loss to High Point, Bakker bounced back with 29 2/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He started that stretch with back-to-back complete games, going the distance in a 5-2 win over Minnesota in which he allowed just five hits and struck out six, allowing two unearned runs. The Deception Bay, Queensland, Australia, native followed that with a two-hit shutout of Georgia Southern, which entered the contest leading the nation with a .345 team batting average and receiving votes in two national polls. Bakker picked up his third straight win the following week against Western Carolina, allowing just an unearned run on five hits in 7 2/3 innings, and closed his month with a win over The Citadel in which he went eight innings and allowed two earned runs. Bakker struck out at least five in each of his last four starts and allowed just five extra-base hits, all of which were doubles, in 38 innings. He held opposing hitters to just a .203 average in the month.

Others nominated: Tyler Moore (Appalachian State), Nick Neitzel (Davidson), Josh Wirsu (Georgia Southern), Alex Ledford (Samford), Jordan Smith (Western Carolina) and Luke Leftwich (Wofford).


MEN’S GOLF
Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern, Jr.
Georgia Southern junior Scott Wolfes turned in a pair of top-five showings in three March tournaments, finishing the month with a stroke average of 71.78 and earning a pair of SoCon golfer of the week awards for his performances. After tying for 19th at the Samford Intercollegiate with a 12-over-par 228 to open his month, Wolfes rebounded in a big way, winning the Eagles’ own Schenkel Invitational with a 7-under 209. He beat out a competitive 90-golfer field that included six ranked teams and 15 ranked individuals, becoming the first GSU golfer to win the Schenkel since 1989 and just the third overall in the 35-year history of the tournament. Wolfes fired a 4-under 68 in the final round to help Georgia Southern secure its first-ever team title at the event. The St. Simons, Ga., native produced another top-five showing at the FAU Slomin Center Invitational to close the month, turning in a 4-under 209 to tie for fourth. Wolfes again shot 4-under in the final round, as his 67 helped the Eagles to a runner-up team finish. The top-five finish was the 10th of his career.

Others nominated: Lee Mitchell (Appalachian State), Bryce Howell (Furman), Roy Dixon (UNCG), Chris Robb (Chattanooga), J.T. Poston (Western Carolina) and Chandler Brazeal (Wofford).


WOMEN’S GOLF
Kristin Swindell, Western Carolina, R-So.
Western Carolina’s Kristin Swindell posted four top-10 showings in as many tries in March, highlighted by winning the Low Country Invitational. The redshirt sophomore opened her month by tying for second at the UNF Invitational, shooting a 10-over 226 for what was her best career finish at the time, to help the Catamounts to the team title. Swindell earned SoCon golfer of the week honors for her performance. Less than a week later, the Bradenton, Fla., native tied for fourth place at the Eagle Landing Invitational, firing a 4-over 220 in her second straight event in her home state. Swindell followed that up with her first collegiate win, edging teammate Kim Mitchell for medalist honors at the Low Country Invitational with a two-round score of 151. There were 55 golfers in the field, which included five SoCon teams. Swindell closed her month with another top-10 showing, tying for sixth at the Mimosa Hills Intercollegiate with a two-round score of 154. Swindell paced the Catamounts to runner-up team finishes at each of their last two events.

Others nominated: Emily Stinson (Appalachian State), Erica Pellegrini (The Citadel), Stephanie Carlozzi (Furman), Sammie Buchanan (UNCG), Bailey Gray (Samford), Emily McLennan (Chattanooga) and Lauren Dunbar (Wofford).


MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Brandon Hazouri, Samford, So.
Samford sophomore distance runner Brandon Hazouri turned in solid performances at a pair of meets for the Bulldogs in March. At the Battle of I-65 on March 14-15, Hazouri took first place in the 3,000-meter run in a time of 8:29.17. He also helped the 4x400-meter relay squad to a second-place finish with a time of 3:25.52 as Samford finished second in the team standings. At the Raleigh Relays two weeks later, the Birmingham, Ala., native finished seventh in the 800-meter in a time of 1:51.28. That mark was the fifth-best in school history and leads the SoCon this season. Hazouri was named the SoCon outdoor track athlete of the week after his performance at the Battle of I-65.

Field
Clay Allen, The Citadel, Sr.
Citadel thrower Clay Allen was named the SoCon outdoor field performer of the month after breaking a 14-year-old school record in the javelin with a throw of 218-6 at the Shamrock Invitational in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Allen, a senior from Duncan, S.C., broke Bulldog assistant coach Kris Kut’s record by 14 feet with a throw that leads the SoCon this season by more than 60 feet. Allen’s mark was also good for third on the NCAA’s East list and earned him SoCon outdoor field athlete of the week honors.


WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD
Track
Tayla Carter, Western Carolina, So.
Western Carolina sprinter Tayla Carter won the 100-meter dash at the 49er Classic in Charlotte, N.C., turning in a time of 11.58 seconds in the final of the event, good for the best time in the SoCon this season. Carter, a sophomore from Marietta, Ga., also had the best time in the preliminaries of the 100m (11.67) and turned in the second-best showing in the preliminaries of the 200-meter (24.08) but did not race in the final. She was also part of the Catamounts’ fourth-place 4x100-meter relay squad (46.42) at the meet. Carter was named the SoCon outdoor track athlete of the week on March 26 after that showing.

Field
Emily Allen, Samford, R-Sr.
Samford thrower/jumper Emily Allen picked up a trio of wins in March. At the Battle of I-65 on March 14-15, Allen took first place in the hammer with a throw of 58.19 meters and won the triple jump with a leap of 12.29 meters, which stands as the second-best mark in the SoCon so far this season. Her efforts led to her being named the SoCon outdoor field performer of the week. Allen won the hammer again the next week at the Alabama Relays, this time with a school-record toss of 59.72 meters, which is the best throw in the league this year by a full seven meters. The redshirt senior from Brentwood, Tenn., also placed seventh in the long jump with a mark of 5.84 meters, which was briefly a school record until it was broken by teammate Nicole Charley later in the event.


SOFTBALL
Player
Kourtny Thomas, Georgia Southern, Sr., SS
Georgia Southern shortstop Kourtny Thomas hit .407 in 20 March games, driving in 18 runs and scoring 11. The Warner Robins, Ga., senior had seven home runs among her 24 hits in the month and reached base in 19 of the Eagles’ 20 contests, including each of the last 16. Thomas had seven multi-hit games, including a 3-for-3 effort against Holy Cross in which she hit two homers and drove in three runs. Thomas also had two hits each in games against Middle Tennessee, Campbell, UNCG, Mercer, Elon and Western Carolina. She drove in three runs in a game three times, doing so against Mercer and Elon in consecutive contests in addition to her efforts against Holy Cross. In the Eagles’ two games against ranked opponents, Thomas was 1-for-2 with a walk against No. 1 Tennessee and 1-for-3 with a solo home run against No. 13 Georgia. Thomas had at least one RBI in 10 of her 20 games in March and hit safely in all but four contests. She turned in a pair of six-game hitting streaks in March and drew 11 walks, all in the final 13 games. Thomas, who committed just one error in 48 chances, helped GSU to a 14-6 mark in the month, including an 8-1 SoCon record.

Others nominated: Sarah Warnock (Appalachian State), Carleigh Nester (Elon), Nicole Thomas (UNCG), Abby Adams (Samford), Anyssa Robles (Chattanooga) and Kara Salvo (Western Carolina).

Pitcher
Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern, Sr., RHP
A two-time SoCon pitcher of the week in March, Georgia Southern’s Sarah Purvis went 9-3 with a 1.76 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 13 appearances. The Warner Robins, Ga., senior opened her month with a no-hitter against Troy on March 1, striking out 12 and walking just one. She followed that up with a two-hit shutout of Tennessee State with another 12 strikeouts before throwing a perfect game against Kennesaw State, the third of her career. After picking up the win in relief against Holy Cross, Purvis two-hit No. 1 Tennessee but came out on the wrong end of the 2-0 decision. After a win over UNCG, Purvis struck out 10 in a loss to Mercer and 12 in a win over Elon. She earned another win over Elon the following day before picking up her third loss of the month, against No. 13 Georgia. She rebounded with consecutive one-hitters against Western Carolina to end the month, striking out 11 in the first one and 12 in the second. All told, Purvis reached double digits in strikeouts six times in the month and walked just 21 batters and allowed 35 hits in 75 2/3 innings pitched.

Others nominated: Shivaun Landeros (Appalachian State), Caitlin O’Shea (Elon), Mollie Hanson (Samford) and Taylor Deason (Chattanooga).


MEN’S TENNIS
Stefan Fortmann, Elon, Jr.
Elon junior Stefan Fortmann went a combined 12-0 in March, going 6-0 in singles action and 6-0 in doubles play. All six of Fortmann’s singles wins came in straight sets as he played his first three matches at No. 4 before moving up to No. 2. The Wartburg, South Africa, native opened his month with consecutive 6-2, 6-2 wins over Samford’s Trey Carter and Davidson’s J.B. Gough before cruising past Winthrop’s Juan Pablo Boada by a 6-1, 6-0 score. After moving up to No. 2, Fortmann dropped Radford’s Patrick O’Keefe 6-3, 6-1 before returning to conference play, where he earned wins over The Citadel’s Dillon Berkabile and Georgia Southern’s Kyle Hoffman, surrendering just a combined four games in the two wins. In doubles play, he teamed with Juan Madrid at No. 3, with the duo winning by at least an 8-5 margin in each bout. Fortmann and Madrid opened with consecutive 8-5 wins against Chattanooga and Samford before cruising to an 8-1 over Davidson’s Alex Howard and Connor Evins. The duo also picked up wins over Winthrop (8-3), The Citadel (8-0) and Georgia Southern (8-4) as Fortmann remained perfect on the month. As a team, Elon went 7-0 in March.

Others nominated: Oliver Casey (Appalachian State), Ethan Kallick (Davidson), Ben Horst (Furman), James Dougherty (UNCG), Elliott Barnwell (Samford), Gino Delavalle (Chattanooga) and Haris Poric (Wofford).


WOMEN’S TENNIS
Ansley Speaks, Furman, Fr.
Furman freshman Ansley Speaks went 18-1 in March, turning in matching 9-1 records in both singles and doubles play. Speaks opened her month with three wins at No. 2 singles, topping Winthrop’s Alice Garcia, UCF’s Courtney Griffith and Cal State Fullerton’s Morgan McIntosh in straight sets. The Simpsonville, S.C., native moved up to No. 1 against UC Irvine and downed Sarah Gong in a super tiebreaker, 1-6, 6-3, 1-0 (10-5). Speaks remained at No. 1 for the rest of the month, gutting out a 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-3), 1-0 (10-6) win over San Diego’s Shani Belcher before dropping her lone singles match of the month to Elon’s Jordan Johnston in three sets, 7-6, 1-6, 2-6. Speaks rebounded with four straight wins to end the month, defeating UNCG’s Dilara Yurtkuran, Appalachian State’s Clare Cox, Samford’s Stephanie N’tcha and Chattanooga’s Kayla Jones in straight sets. In doubles action, Speaks paired with Blair Martin at No. 2, and the duo fell only to San Diego’s Anna Depenau and Colomba DiFilppo. Speaks and Martin were 5-0 in SoCon play, including an 8-1 win over N’tcha and Carita Moolman of 71st-ranked Samford.

Others nominated: Jessica Thaggard (Appalachian State), Brites Moniz-Soares (Davidson), Jordan Johnston (Elon), Yasmeen Ebada (Samford), Kaylene Chadwell (Chattanooga) and Stacia Kissell (Western Carolina).


Southern Conference March Athletes of the Month
Baseball – Player    Adam Martin, Western Carolina
Baseball – Pitcher    Lucas Bakker, Elon
Men’s Golf    Scott Wolfes, Georgia Southern
Women’s Golf    Kristin Swindell, Western Carolina
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – Track    Brandon Hazouri, Samford
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field – Field    Clay Allen, The Citadel
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – Track    Tayla Carter, Western Carolina
Women’s Outdoor Track and Field – Field    Emily Allen, Samford
Softball – Player    Kourtny Thomas, Georgia Southern
Softball – Pitcher    Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Men’s Tennis    Stefan Fortmann, Elon
Women’s Tennis    Ansley Speaks, Furman