SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Bethany Cowart and Lindsey Fadnek have earned Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week honors, respectively, for games played April 11-17, the league office announced Monday.
Cowart, a senior outfielder, hit .556 (5-for-9) at the dish with five RBIs in the Bucs’ 2-1 series win at Mercer over the weekend. On Saturday, the Ringgold, Ga., native recorded a single and drew a walk in ETSU’s 7-2 game-one win before adding a double in two plate appearances in the second half of the twin bill. Cowart saved her best performance for last, going 3-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs as the Bucs cruised to an 11-7 victory in the series finale. She homered twice, marking the first multi-home run game of her career, and swatted a double in the outing.
Fadnek was credited with both of ETSU’s wins after tossing a pair of complete games. The junior right-hander from Coalfield, Tenn., struck out six Mercer batters, registered only one walk and did not allow an earned run in the weekend’s first contest. Fadnek then notched three Ks and allowed three earned runs in the series finale on Sunday, which, combined with a strong game from Cowart and the Bucs offense, proved to be enough for a win. For the weekend, she compiled a 1.50 ERA with nine punchouts.
Fadnek, who is 8-3 on the season, ranks in the top five in the SoCon in ERA (3.06), opposing batting average (.254), hits allowed (64), runs allowed (37) and earned runs allowed (28).
The Bucs join Samford as the only team to sweep player of the week honors this season. Samford did it twice in consecutive weeks on March 28 and April 4.
SoCon softball continues Monday when Chattanooga travels to Tennessee Tech for a nonconference clash at 6 p.m.
Other nominees for player of the week: Sieara Bishop (Furman), Shaila Warren (Mercer), Kendall McKinney (UNCG), Abbie Miranda (Samford) and Taylor Sigmon (Western Carolina).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Mollie Hanson (Samford).
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
April 18 – Bethany Cowart, ETSU, 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
March 28 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 4 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 11 – Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina
April 18 – Lindsey Fadnek, ETSU
-www.SoConSports.com-