SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s Elise Smith 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.
Smith batted .500 (3-for-6) and slugged 1.500 with two home runs, three runs and six RBIs, as the Paladins earned a three-game sweep of ETSU last weekend. The sophomore recorded a hit and at least one RBI in each game of the series.
Smith opened the series with a 1-for-3 effort with a homer, a walk, a run and RBI in a 2-1 Furman victory. In game two of the Friday’s doubleheader, she recorded a hit and two RBIs as Furman edged ETSU, 7-6, in nine innings. Smith wrapped up the series on Saturday, hitting a three-run homer in her only official at-bat while also scoring twice in the game.
The native of Johns Creek, Ga. earns her first weekly honor of the season.
Stevens compiled a 1-1 record with an 0.54 ERA in 13.0 innings pitched for Mercer on the weekend, as the Bears took two of three from Samford. The sophomore hurler scattered 12 hits over two starts, allowing just two runs (one earned) with one walk against 11 strikeouts.
Stevens tossed a shutout in Saturday’s series opener, allowing three hits with one walk against six strikeouts in a complete-game performance for her 20th win of the season. On Sunday, Stevens was the tough-luck loser, allowing just one earned run on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to the Bulldogs.
The native of Crystal Lake, Ill. leads the SoCon in strikeouts (170) and wins (20) this season. She claims the weekly honor for the fourth time this season.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Riley Carter (Mercer), Shelby Maze (Samford), Nicole Osterman (Chattanooga)
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Lindsey Bert (Furman), Mollie Hanson (Samford), Cori Jennings (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
Mar. 23 – Courtney Price, Western Carolina
Mar. 30 – Nicole Osterman, Chattanooga
Apr. 6 – Callie Brister, Samford
Apr. 13 – Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
Apr. 20 – Elise Smith, 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
Mar. 9 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
Mar. 16 – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer
Mar. 23 – Cori Jennings, Chattanooga
Mar. 30 – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer
Apr. 6 – Jordan Garrett, Western Carolina
Apr. 13 – Jordan Garrett, Western Carolina
Apr. 20 – Kirsten Stevens, Mercer