SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina catcher Madison Armstrong and ETSU right-handed pitcher Madison Ogle have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games held March 27 through April 2, the league announced Monday. Selections are made by the Southern Conference office.
Armstrong hit .643 and slugged 1.071 in five games for the Catamounts last week against Charlotte and Furman. The sophomore recorded a hit in all five games last week and posted multi-hit games in the Catamounts’ pair of doubleheaders on Wednesday and Saturday. Armstrong also added five RBIs and five runs scored, reaching home plate safely in each of Western Carolina’s five contests last week.
Against Charlotte on Wednesday, Armstrong recorded three RBIs, a double and a single, in addition to one run scored, in the Catamounts’ 5-1 game one win over the 49ers. In game two, Armstrong again recorded two hits, one of which was a double along with one run scored.
In Western Carolina’s second conference series of the season against Furman, Armstrong notched her first home run of the season in the Catamounts’ 4-2 loss on Saturday to give WCU a 2-0 lead, heading into the fifth inning. In the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Armstrong recorded her 10th double of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning before scoring the Catamounts’ second run in their 5-2 loss Saturday. In the final game of the series against the Paladins, the Gastonia, North Carolina, native was hit by two pitches and logged another hit and run scored in the Catamounts’ 7-6 loss.
Ogle posted an ERA of 1.00 in three starts for the Bucs last week against Presbyterian and Mercer. For the week, Ogle recorded 14 strikeouts and surrendered just two earned runs and two walks in 21 innings pitched.
In the Bucs’ 3-2 win over Presbyterian on Wednesday, Ogle hurled 115 pitches in seven innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits and one walk. In game one of ETSU’s opening SoCon series against Mercer, the Maryville, Tennessee, native held the Bears, who currently lead the SoCon in runs scored (183) and hits (289), to two runs on six hits, while tallying eight strikeouts. In Sunday’s rubber match, Ogle pitched a complete-game shutout in the Bucs’ 2-0 win, surrendering just three hits for the game to help the Bucs claim the series.
Other nominees for player of the week: Tiffany Laughren (ETSU), Caroline Cash (Furman), Quirisa Mauga (Mercer) and Hannah Trombley (Samford).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Emily Demonte (Furman), Megan Bilgri (Mercer), Alicia Bazonski (UNCG) and Jessica Stone (Samford).
2017 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 13 – Tiffany Laughren, ETSU, OF
Feb. 20 – Jasmine Palmer, UNCG, UT
Feb. 27 – Megan Lane, Mercer, C
March 6 – Abby Walsh, Mercer, OF
March 13 – Emily Acquaviva, UNCG, OF
March 20 – Abby Sweeney, Samford, OF
March 27 – Emma Andrew, Mercer, SS
April 3 – Madison Armstrong, Western Carolina, C
2017 Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 13 – Madison Ogle, ETSU
Feb. 20 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
Feb. 27 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
March 6 – Courtney Buchanan, Western Carolina
March 13 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
March 20 – Jessica Stone, Samford
March 27 – Stella Preston, Mercer
April 3 – Madison Ogle, ETSU
-www.SoConSports.com-