SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Lindsay Thomas and Samford’s Mollie Hanson have been named Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played April 25-May 1, the league office announced Monday.
Thomas, a senior catcher for Spartans, hit .600 (9-for-15) and jacked three home runs as UNCG earned a series sweep of Chattanooga. The Irvine, Calif., native started the week by recording a hit and a run in a loss at Charlotte on Tuesday before doing most of her damage against the Mocs. Thomas kicked off the UTC series Saturday by going 3-for-4 with a walk-off homer in game one. She added a 2-for-4 performance in game two and then was 3-for-5 with a pair of home runs and two RBIs in the finale on Sunday. Thomas drew two walks and only struck out once across the four contests.
Thomas leads the SoCon in batting average (.438), slugging percentage (.843), on-base percentage (.511), runs scored (50) and total bases (129). This is her second weekly honor of the season.
Hanson turned in a pair of complete-game performances for Samford in its series win over ETSU. The redshirt senior pitcher tossed 12 innings in her two appearances, allowing only one earned run for a 0.58 ERA. Hanson threw seven innings, surrendering her only earned run of the week and striking out five, in a 4-1 victory in the series-opener. She then pitched five scoreless innings in Sunday’s finale, fanning six Bucs batters and allowing two hits in a 12-0 rout. The Dothan, Ala., product limited the Bucs to a .190 batting average while in the circle.
Hanson has earned pitcher of the week accolades four times this season. She leads the league in wins (19) and ranks in the top five in ERA (2.75), opposing batting average (.243) and strikeouts (113).
Regular-season action concludes this weekend with three conference series.
Other nominees for player of the week: AnnaRose Borrelli (Furman), Megan Dowdy (Samford) and Amanda Beltran (Chattanooga).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Emily Demonte (Furman) and Cori Jennings (Chattanooga).
2016 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 15 – Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, C/DP
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
May 2 – Lindsay Thomas, UNCG, C/DP
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
May 2 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
-www.SoConSports.com-