SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG shortstop Rachael McClaskey and Mercer right-handed pitcher Anna O'Neill have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games held April 24-30, the league announced Monday. Selections are made by the Southern Conference office.
McClaskey hit .545 and tallied seven RBIs in the Spartans' three-game series against Chattanooga this past weekend, which UNCG claimed, 2-1. The Spartans won both of Saturday's games in five innings. The junior recorded at least one hit in all three games, including a double in the Spartans' 4-3 loss on Sunday. McClaskey's peak performance came in game two of Saturday's doubleheader, which the Spartans won, 15-7, going 4-for-4 at the plate and recording four RBIs and one stolen base.
The weekly award is the first of McClaskey's career.
UNCG (26-21, 9-5 SoCon) will host ETSU in its last conference series of the season. Both the Spartans and the Bucs are currently locked in a three-way tie for first place with Furman in the SoCon standings.
O'Neill tossed her first shutout of the year – sixth of her career – in Mercer's 5-0 win over Western Carolina on Sunday to take the series over the Catamounts, 2-1. The senior allowed just one hit, two walks, while matching a season-high four strikeouts.
With Sunday's performance, O'Neill dropped her season ERA below 3.00, making her just one of three Bears' pitchers with that mark. O'Neill, who boasts a 2.59 ERA this season, currently ranks second on the team. The weekly award is the first of O'Neill's career.
Mercer (23-29, 9-9 SoCon) returns to action on Wednesday as they host Alabama State in their regular season finale at 5 p.m. The Bears will enjoy a bye week in the final weekend of conference play before heading to Chattanooga, Tennessee, for the Southern Conference Championship May 10-13.
Other nominees for player of the week: Danielle Knoetze (ETSU), Meghan Rud (Mercer), Jesslyn Stockard (Chattanooga) and Hunter Gibbons (Western Carolina).
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Lindsey Fadnek (ETSU).
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
April 10 – Hunter Gibbons, Western Carolina, OF
April 17 – Whitney Hinton, Samford, IF
April 24 – Abby Sweeney, Samford, C
May 1 – Rachael McClaskey, UNCG, SS
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
April 10 – Stella Preston, Mercer
April 17 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
April 24 – Lindsey Bert, Furman
May 1 – Anna O'Neill, Mercer
-www.SoConSports.com-