SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Nicole Thomas and Western Carolina’s Taylor Sigmon have garnered Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games played April 4-10, the league office announced Monday.
Thomas only saw seven at-bats but made the most of them for the Spartans. The senior’s week was highlighted by a 2-for-3 effort that included a walk-off grand slam in a 6-3 win over Mercer in the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Her game-winning blast came with UNCG down to its last out. The Irvine, Calif., native provided more heroics in the series finale on Sunday, going 3-for-3 with two RBIs, including a game-tying single in the bottom of the seventh inning. A Bears’ error on the same play gave the Spartans a series-clinching 5-4 victory and their second walk-off win in as many games. Thomas hit .714 (5-for-7) for the week with six RBIs, a run and three walks.
Sigmon tossed a total of 21 1/3 innings across four appearances and two starts, compiling 30 strikeouts and a 1.31 ERA for the Catamounts. The senior from Catawba, N.C., provided three innings of no-hit relief to preserve a 12-11 win over USC Upstate in game one of a twin bill on Wednesday. Sigmon went the distance in game two, striking out 12 Spartan hitters and allowing only one multi-base hit – a double – in a 3-0 loss. She was back in action on Saturday, delivering a complete-game shutout of Chattanooga that featured nine strikeouts and only one walk. Sigmon limited the Mocs offense to four hits on the day. The right-hander closed out the week by giving her team four and a third innings of relief in a narrow 4-3 loss to UTC on Sunday. She fanned four hitters and allowed three hits in the outing.
Sigmon leads the SoCon with 134 strikeouts this season.
SoCon softball continues with ETSU and Furman in action Tuesday against nonconference opponents.
Other nominees for player of the week: Meghan Rud (Mercer), Shelby Maze (Samford), Sam Taylor (Chattanooga) and Crystal Cyr (Western Carolina).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Maxine Rodriguez (Mercer), Stephanie Bryden (UNCG) 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
March 28 – Abbie Miranda, Samford, 2B
April 4 – Megan Dowdy, Samford, OF
April 11 – Nicole Thomas, UNCG, P/1B
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
April 4 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 11 – Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina
-www.SoConSports.com-