SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer catcher Megan Lane and Furman ace Lindsey Bert have been named Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games held Feb. 20-26, the league announced Monday. Selections are made by the Southern Conference office.
Lane hit .467 and slugged .933 to lead the Bears to a 4-2 week, including a dominant 21-2 victory over Savannah State on Sunday. The sophomore from Brooksville, Florida, recorded at least one hit in the Bears’ five games this past weekend at the Black & Orange Challenge, which Mercer hosted at Sikes Field in Macon, Georgia. Lane recorded seven RBIs last week, including four in the Bears’ rout of the Tigers on Sunday. Lane achieved an on-base percentage of .652, due in large part to being walked eight times last week, putting her in position to score eight Bear runs, including three in Mercer’s 6-3 win over Marist on Friday.
On the year, Lane currently has the second-highest Bears batting average (.410), which is also good for seventh-best in the SoCon. Lane currently ranks second in the conference in walks (11) and sacrifice bunts (3), and is third in on-base percentage (.540).
Bert garners her second consecutive pitcher of the week honor after achieving an ERA of 0.94 and a 3-1 record last week against USC Upstate, Toledo, Sacred Heart and Delaware State at the Buffalo Wild Wings Classic, which the Paladins hosted in Greenville, South Carolina. The junior left-hander pitched 22 innings over the weekend, surrendering just eight hits and three earned runs. On the week, Bert struck out 19 batters, including seven in the Paladins’ 1-0 win over Toledo. On Saturday against Delaware State, Bert pitched a complete game, throwing 105 pitches, while only allowing one Hornet hit to lead the Paladins to a 5-0 victory and their fourth consecutive win.
Bert currently leads the SoCon with five wins and nine starts. The Tallahassee, Florida, native ranks second in innings pitched (54) and third in ERA (2.33) and opposing batting average (.194).
Other nominees for player of the week: Taylor Carter (ETSU), Kayleigh Willis (UNCG), Shelby Maze (Samford), Ashley Conner (Chattanooga) and Courtney Price (Western Carolina).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Madison Ogle (ETSU), Alicia Bazonski (UNCG), Grey Adams (Samford) and Lily Hayes (Western Carolina).
2017 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 13 – Tiffany Laughren, ETSU, OF
Feb. 20 – Jasmine Palmer, UNCG, UT
Feb. 27 – Megan Lane, Mercer, C
2017 Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 13 – Madison Ogle, ETSU
Feb. 20 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
Feb. 27 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
-www.SoConSports.com-