SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga’s Criket Blanco and Samford’s Mollie Hanson have been named Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played April 18-24, the league office announced Monday.
Blanco hit .500 (7-for-14) for the Mocs (26-22, 6-6 SoCon), who went 4-1 last week and earned a series win over Mercer. The senior second baseman recorded eight RBIs and eight runs, jacked three home runs and drew five walks across the five contests without recording a strikeout.
The Maryville, Tenn., native was extremely productive in the Mocs’ first two games of the week. In a 6-2 win at Tennessee Tech last Monday, she tallied three RBIs on a pair of homers and a double in three plate appearances. Blanco then posted a four-RBI effort in a 10-5 home win over Tennessee State two days later by recording two doubles in four at-bats. Her series against the Bears over the weekend was highlighted by a solo homer in the latter half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Blanco also registered a 1.000 fielding percentage for the week.
Hanson, a redshirt senior, compiled a 2-0 record and a 0.57 ERA in the span of 12 1/3 innings for first-place Samford (30-17, 10-2 SoCon). Her first appearance of the week was in game two of the Bulldogs’ sweep of Austin Peay last Wednesday. Hanson successfully nursed a 2-1 lead for two innings, striking out three while holding the Governors hitless en route to a 5-1 win. The Dothan, Ala.. product then tossed nine innings in an 8-1 defeat of Western Kentucky in the first half of Saturday’s twin bill. She totaled 11 strikeouts against only one walk in the contest, allowing only three hits and one run in the complete-game victory. Hanson concluded the week by providing an inning and a third of relief in the second half of the doubleheader against WKU.
Hanson, who is 17-8, leads the SoCon in wins and ranks in the top five in the conference in ERA and opposing batting average. This is her third pitcher of the week honor of the season.
SoCon softball continues Tuesday with four league teams taking on nonconference foes.
Other nominees for player of the week: Danielle Knoetze (ETSU), Candace Johnson (Furman), Quirisa Mauga (Mercer), Danielle Vega (UNCG) and Shelby Maze (Samford).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Lindsey Fadnek (ETSU), Emily Demonte (Furman) and Kailey Palazzolo (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
April 18 – Bethany Cowart, ETSU, OF
April 25 – Criket Blanco, Chattanooga, 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
April 4 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 11 – Taylor Sigmon, Western Carolina
April 18 – Lindsey Fadnek, ETSU
April 25 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
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