SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Abbie Miranda and Mollie Hanson collected Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games played March 21-27, the league office announced Monday.
Miranda, a junior second baseman, went 8-for-13 and tallied eight RBIs during a 3-1 week for the Bulldogs, which included a road sweep of Mercer to open conference play. The Vestavia Hills, Ala., native recorded at least one RBI in all four contests and notched three multi-hit efforts on the week. After going 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs against the Bears in Friday’s second game, Miranda punctuated the week with a game-sealing grand slam in the top of the fifth inning in a 10-3 win Saturday afternoon. Miranda also stole two bases and drew two walks during the week.
Hanson, a redshirt senior, was a perfect 3-0 in the circle for the week and registered a pair of complete-game victories in Friday’s SoCon-opening twin bill against Mercer. The Dothan, Ala., product opened the week on Tuesday by limiting Kennesaw State to one earned run and striking out seven batters in a complete-game effort. During Friday’s doubleheader against the Bears, Hanson got better as the day went on. She allowed six hits in seven innings in an 11-6 win before fanning nine batters and allowing only one earned run in a 6-1 victory. Hanson also contributed a scoreless inning of relief as Samford completed a sweep of the Bears on Saturday. She posted 22 strikeouts and only four walks for the week.
Hanson is 10-7 and has been in the circle for 104 innings this season, which is second in the league behind Furman’s Lindsey Bert (106 innings).
SoCon softball action continues Tuesday when Western Carolina hosts Presbyterian in a doubleheader and Samford travels to SEC foe Ole Miss.
Other nominees for player of the week: Kelsey Smith (ETSU), Quirisa Mauga (Mercer), Danielle Vega (UNCG), Sam Taylor (Chattanooga) and Madison Armstrong (Western Carolina).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Madison Ogle (ETSU), Cori Jennings (Chattanooga) and Courtney Buchanan (Western Carolina).
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
March 28 – Abbie Miranda, Samford, 2B
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
March 28 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
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