SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer softball player Stella Preston has been named the General Shale Southern Conference Student-Athlete of the Week for competition held March 21-27, the league office announced Wednesday.

Preston appeared in two games over the weekend, throwing 11 innings without allowing a run. The sophomore from Safety Harbor, Florida, entered in relief against Chattanooga on March 24, pitching six shutout innings with just one hit allowed as the Bears came back to win 6-3. Preston got the start against the Mocs on March 25, throwing a complete-game shutout as Mercer defeated Chattanooga 11-0. 

Preston currently leads the Bears in ERA (2.28), saves (16) and appearances (16) while ranking third on the team with six wins. 

A political science major, Preston holds a 3.912 grade point average. 

Mercer hosts ETSU for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 1 p.m.

Also nominated for SoCon Student-Athlete of the Week: Thomas Byelick (The Citadel), Tiffany Laughren (ETSU), Natalie Srinivasan (Furman), Alicia Baonski (UNCG) and Abby Bateman (Chattanooga).

General Shale SoCon Student-Athletes of the Week
Sept. 6 Lauren Greenspoon, Chattanooga, Volleyball
Sept. 13 Paige Alsten, Mercer, Volleyball
Sept. 20 John Payne, Chattanooga, Men’s Cross Country
Sept. 27 Austin Herink, ETSU, Football
Oct. 4 Andy Schumpert, Furman, Football
Oct. 11 Eleonora Goldoni, ETSU, Women’s Soccer
Oct. 18 Megan McCallister, Western Carolina, Women’s Soccer
Oct. 25 Tee Mitchell, Mercer, Football
Nov. 1 Allie Buchalski, Furman, Women’s Cross Country           
Nov. 8 Cienna Rideout, UNCG, Women’s Soccer           
Nov. 15 Catie Cronister, Wofford, Volleyball
Nov. 22 Allie Buchalski, Furman, Women’s Cross Country
Nov. 29 Andy Schumpert, Furman, Football
Dec. 6 Amanda Thompson, Mercer, Women’s Basketball
Dec. 13 Sherae Bonner, Western Carolina, Women’s Basketball           
Jan. 3 Sydni Means, Mercer, Women’s Basketball           
Jan. 10 Desmond Ringer, Mercer, Men’s Basketball           
Jan. 17 Bethany King, VMI, Women’s Track and Field
Jan. 24 Savannah Carnahan, Furman, Women’s Track and Field
Jan. 31 Nadine Soliman, UNCG, Women’s Basketball
Feb. 7 Willem van Zyl, The Citadel Men’s Tennis
Feb. 14 Jacquelyn Crow, Furman Women’s Track and Field
Feb. 21 Brandon Barbery, VMI baseball
Feb. 28 Savannah Carnahan, Furman Women’s Track and Field
March 7 Megan Woods, Chattanooga Women’s Golf
March 14 Sawyer Gipson-Long, Mercer Baseball 
March 21 Jordan Gontram, UNCG Softball
March 28 Stella Preston, Mercer softball

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