SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer’s Riley Carter and Kirsten Stevens 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.
Carter batted .474 (9-for-19) with two homers and 10 RBIs over seven games, as Mercer went 6-1 on the week, including two wins over Big Ten opponent Michigan State. The senior outfielder had a hit in six of the seven games, including two multi-hit games, and scored seven times while recording three doubles and walking four times with no strikeouts.
Carter’s week was highlight by a 2-for-3 performance with a double, a home run, a run and five RBIs against Youngstown State on Friday night. She then wrapped up the week on Sunday against Alabama A&M by going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. The native of Jacksonville, Fla. has now hit safely in four straight games and has at least one RBI in each game.
Stevens was nothing shy of dominant last week, compiling a 4-0 record without allowing a run in 26.0 innings pitched for Mercer. The sophomore pitcher scattered 15 hits and held opposing hitters to a .174 batting average while tallying 19 strikeouts against zero walks, as the Bears outscored their opponents 20-0 in her four starts.
Stevens topped South Dakota on Tuesday with a three-hit, six-strikeout shutout to begin the week. She then tossed two shutouts against Michigan State on back-to-back days, allowing just four hits in each game and totaling a combined nine Ks over the two games. She finished off the week in strong fashion with a four-hit, five-inning shutout against Alabama A&M on Sunday, recording four strikeouts as the Bears earned the 8-0 win by run rule.
The native of Crystal Lake, Ill. leads the SoCon in wins (14), strikeouts (115) and innings pitched (114.0) this season. Stevens takes the weekly honor for the second time this season.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Kelsey Smith (ETSU), Sieara Bishop (Furman), Abby Sweeney (Samford), Sarah Beth Robert (Chattanooga)
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Mollie Hanson (Samford), Taylor Deason (Chattanooga)
2015 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 – Natalie Shiver, Mercer
Feb. 16 – Caitlin Bice, Samford
Feb. 23 – Nicole Osterman, Chattanooga
Mar. 2 – Sieara Bishop, Furman
Mar. 9 – Nicole Thomas, UNCG
Mar. 16 – Riley Carter, Mercer
2015 Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 9 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
Feb. 16 – Jordan Garrett, Western Carolina
Feb. 23 – Cori Jennings, Chattanooga
Mar. 2 – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer
Mar. 9 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
Mar. 16 – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer