SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Shelby Maze and Chattanooga’s Celie Hudson have been named player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played April 9-15, the conference office announced Monday. This is the third weekly award of the season for Maze and first of Hudson’s career.
Maze earns her third award this year after finishing the week with a blistering .778 batting average as the Bulldogs earned a 2-1 series win over Western Carolina. Maze started the weekend with two hits, one run and one RBI in a 7-2 loss on April 14. In the second game of the series, the senior went 2-for-3 with one RBI as Samford earned a 2-1 win. Maze rounded out the weekend with a 3-for-4 effort with three runs and one RBI, helping Samford to a 14-6 series-clinching win. The Morris, Alabama, native also stole two bases in the series and became Samford’s all-time career hits leader with 280 in her Samford career, eclipsing the previous record of 274 set by current Samford assistant coach Megan Dowdy (2013-16). Maze finished the weekend with seven hits, four runs scored, three walks and three RBIs, upping her conference-leading batting average to .417.
Hudson led the Mocs to two wins last week, tossing two complete games and allowing just one run in 14 innings. The sophomore earned her first win of the week on April 11 as Chattanooga downed UAB 3-1. Hudson struck out three and surrendered three hits in the contest. On April 14, Hudson took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning in a 2-0, complete-game win over Furman. The Paris, Tennessee, native fanned four and allowed just one hit as she picked up her second win of the week and ninth of the season. Hudson limited hitters to an .085 batting average in the two contests and now ranks fourth in the SoCon with 116 innings pitched this season.
Others nominated for player of the week: Shaila Warren (Mercer), Jasmine Palmer (UNCG) and Aly Walker (Chattanooga).
Others nominated for pitcher of the week: Madison Ogle (ETSU), Stella Preston (Mercer), Alicia Bazonski (UNCG) and Annalyn Yantis (Samford).
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
March 26 – Makenna Matthijs, OF, Fr., UNCG
April 2 – Shelby Maze, OF, Sr., Samford
April 9 – Lindsey Bert, DP, Sr., Furman
April 16 – Shelby Maze, OF, Sr., Samford
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
March 26 – Alicia Bazonski, Sr., UNCG
April 2 – Stephanie Bryden, Jr., UNCG
April 9 – Lindsey Bert, Sr., Furman
April 16 – Celie Hudson, So., Chattanooga