SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG’s Makenna Matthijs and ETSU’s Madison Ogle have been named Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played March 12-18, the conference office announced Monday. The award is the second of the year for Matthijs and third for Ogle’s career.
Matthijs batted .588 for the week as UNCG earned six straight wins to push its record to 21-7 for the year. The freshman started the week with a 3-for-3 effort at the plate with three RBIs, two runs scored, a double and a home run in a win over North Carolina A&T. Matthijs then went a combined 3-for-6 with one run and one double in a doubleheader with Canisius on March 16. The Greenville, North Carolina, native collected two more hits, including a double, in a win over Towson on March 17, halting the Tigers’ 13-game win streak. Matthijs and the Spartans then defeated Towson again the following day as she finished 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, two doubles and one run scored. For the week, Matthijs recorded 10 hits, six RBIs and five doubles. The outfielder ranks second in the conference with eight doubles this season and seventh with 18 RBIs.
Ogle accounted for all three of ETSU’s wins in the circle this past week, while pitching two shutouts, as the Bucs improved to 12-13 overall this season. Ogle started the week with a complete-game shutout over Presbyterian, allowing just three hits while fanning six, giving up just one walk and retiring 21 of the 26 hitters she faced. The senior also recorded her 200th career strikeout in the game to become jus the sixth Buccaneer in program history to reach the milestone and first since 2014 when Katie Wolff accomplished the feat. Following a loss to Toledo on March 16, Ogle came on in relief against Morehead State with the go-ahead run on second base in the bottom of the sixth and retired six of the seven batters she faced to earn the win. Ogle tossed 2 1/3 innings, surrendering one hit and striking out three in the eight-inning contests against the Eagles. The Maryville, Tennessee, native capped the week with her second complete game in four games, giving up just four hits and striking out six as the Bucs downed Oakland, 7-0. With her two shutouts this week, Ogle now had four in her career, tying her for eighth all-time in ETSU program history. The righty ranks in the top five of seven different statistical categories in the SoCon and now has eight wins to her credit this season.
Others nominated for player of the week: Taylor Wright (ETSU), Hannah Reynolds (Furman), Megan Lane (Mercer), Shelby Maze (Samford) and Brook Womack (Chattanooga).
Others nominated for pitcher of the week: Lindsey Bert (Furman), Jill McElderry (Mercer) and Alicia Bazonski (UNCG).
2018 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 12 – Marisa Sholtes, 1B, RJr., UNCG
Feb. 19 – Makenna Matthijs, OF, Fr., UNCG
Feb. 26 – Caroline Taylor, 1B, RSr., Mercer
March 5 – Shelby Maze, OF, Sr., Samford
March 12 – Candace Johnson, OF, RSr., Furman
March 19 – Makenna Matthijs, OF, Fr., UNCG
2018 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 12 – Emily Demonte, Jr., Furman
Feb. 19 – Emily Demonte, Jr., Furman
Feb. 26 – Lindsey Bert, Sr., Furman
March 5 – Jill McElderry, Sr., Mercer
March 12 – Stephanie Bryden, Jr., UNCG
March 19 – Madison Ogle, Sr., ETSU