SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer outfielder Taylor Miller and UNCG pitcher Alicia Bazonski garnered Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played March 14-20, the league office announced Monday.
Miller, a junior, was an efficient 7-for-11 (.636) at the plate and recorded one RBI in all four of the Bears’ wins at the Mercer Bears Classic. The Lawrenceville, Ga., native posted a pair of multi-hit performances on Friday, going 2-for-2 in an 11-2 rout of Seton Hall and 3-for-4 in a 5-2 win over Oakland. On Saturday, Miller added a hit in both games as the Bears earned a weekend sweep of Oakland and Seton Hall. She was also a terror on the base paths, notching three steals and crossing the plate four times at the tournament.
Miller has a SoCon-best 17 steals on the season and leads in the Bears in batting average (.410), hits (41), total bases (43) and on-base percentage (.449).
Bazonski collected her second consecutive pitcher of the week honor and third of the season after compiling a 3-0 record in the circle at the Blue/Gold Invitational. The sophomore right-hander totaled 21 1/3 innings over four starts, registering a 1.64 ERA and limiting opposing hitters to a .259 batting average. Bazonski began the week on Tuesday by throwing six innings, allowing one earned run and fanning six batters in an 11-3 blowout of Bryant. Two days later, she tossed five shutout innings as the Spartans blanked George Washington, 6-0. After putting in 5 1/3 innings of work against Robert Morris on Friday, the Sheffield, Mass., product closed out the week on Saturday by hurling five shutout innings as the Spartans beat the Colonials, 8-0.
Bazonski is 11-2 on the season and boasts a 0.91 ERA in March.
SoCon softball action resumes Tuesday when Samford hosts Kennesaw State at 6 p.m. (EST).
Other nominees for player of the week: Hagan Kiser (UNCG), Hannah Trombley (Samford) and Criket Blanco (Chattanooga).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Megan Bilgri (Mercer) and Cori Jennings (Chattanooga).
2016 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 15 – Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, C
Feb. 22 – AnnaRose Borrelli, Furman, 1B
Feb. 29 – Hannah Trombley, Samford, C
March 7 – AnnaRose Borrelli, Furman 1B
March 14 – Courtney Price, Western Carolina, OF
March 21 – Taylor Miller, Mercer, OF
2016 Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 15 – Cori Jennings, Chattanooga
Feb. 22 – Jessica Stone, Samford
Feb. 29 – Alicia Bazonski, UNCG
March 7 – Lindsey Fadnek, ETSU
March 14 – Alicia Bazonski, UNCG
March 21 – Alicia Bazonski, UNCG
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