SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Sieara Bishop and Mercer’s 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.
Bishop was 6-for-10 with two doubles, a homer, six RBIs and a run as the Paladins swept Ohio at home last weekend. The junior shortstop had multi-hit games in the final two games of the series and drove in the eventual game-winning run in game three of the three-game slate.
Bishop’s best game of the series came in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader, as she went 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, a run and four RBIs. The native of Hendersonville, N.C. followed with three hits and two RBIs on Sunday to cap off the week. She takes the weekly honor for the first time this season.
Stevens made three appearances (two starts) for Mercer last week, compiling an 0.84 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched. The sophomore hurler went 3-0 on the week, allowing five runs (two earned) on 11 hits with 22 strikeouts against just one walk.
Stevens tossed 7.0 innings on Friday against Buffalo and allowed a run and three hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. She followed with 7.0 innings against Evansville in game one on Saturday, allowing no earned runs and five hits while issuing zero walks and fanning nine batters in the win. The native of Crystal Lake, Ill. earns her first weekly honor in the SoCon in the Bears’ inaugural campaign in the league.
Also nominationed for Player of the Week: Kelsey Smith (ETSU), Taylor Miller (Mercer), Taylor Sigmon (Western Carolina)
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Taylor Carter (ETSU), Lindsey Bert (Furman)
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
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