SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s Hunter Gibbons and Samford’s Mollie Hanson have been named Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played May 2-8, the league office announced Monday.
Gibbons, a freshman infielder, recorded nine RBIs on three home runs as Western Carolina took two of three contests from Mercer to secure the No. 3 seed in the SoCon Championship. The Catamount newcomer, who compiled a slugging percentage of 1.714 for the series, went 1-for-3 with a two-run shot in the second half of Saturday’s doubleheader. Her home run cut the Bears’ lead to 3-2 and set off six unanswered runs as WCU earned a 7-5 victory. On Sunday, the Woodleaf, N.C., native was 2-for-3 and blasted her first career grand slam in the bottom of the first inning before hitting a two-run homer two innings later. Gibbons’ seven RBIs in the contest marked the most by a SoCon player in a single game this season.
Hanson continued her dominant 2016 campaign by tossing eight innings and allowing only one earned run as Samford bested UNCG 3-1 in game one on Saturday to clinch the SoCon regular-season crown. The Dothan, Ala., product struck out six and did not issue a walk against the Spartans’ potent offense. With the win, the right-hander finished the regular season with a 10-0 record and 1.73 ERA at home. This is her third consecutive pitcher of the week honor and fifth of the season.
SoCon squads will now head to UNCG Softball Stadium in Greensboro, N.C., for the 2016 SoCon Softball Championship, which begins Wednesday and eventually culminates Saturday with the championship game(s). Saturday’s action will be broadcast on ESPN3, and all other games will be available on the SoCon Digital Network.
Other nominees for player of the week: Taylor Carter (ETSU), Callie Brister (Samford) and Anyssa Robles (Chattanooga).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Madison Ogle (ETSU) and Taylor Sigmon (Western Carolina).
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
May 9 – Hunter Gibbons, Western Carolina, IF
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
May 9 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
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