SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford’s Shelby Maze and UNCG’s Stephanie Bryden have been named Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played March 26 to April 1, the conference office announced Monday. This is the second award of the season for both Maze and Bryden.
Maze finished the week with an .818 batting average after going 9-for-11 with six runs scored in three games last week. The senior started the weekend series against Chattanooga with two hits, two runs and one RBI as Samford claimed a 15-2 victory. In the second game of the doubleheader against the Mocs, Maze finished a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one stolen base. The Morris, Alabama, native rounded out the weekend with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate and two runs scored as the Bulldogs dropped the weekend series. Maze is currently second in the SoCon with a .378 batting average and leads the conference with 42 hits this season.
Bryden claimed her second weekly honor this year after throwing 16 2/3 scoreless innings and picking up three wins this past week. Bryden started the week with a win against Charlotte, throwing six innings with nine strikeouts and just one hit allowed. The junior then hurled a complete-game two hitter in a win over Western Carolina, striking out seven and allowing two free passes. A native of Orlando, Florida, Bryden rounded out the weekend with 3 2/3 innings in relief on March 31, striking out six Catamounts and giving up one hit as UNCG earned its second SoCon sweep of the season. For the week, Bryden fanned 22 batters and allowed just four hits, improving her record to 12-1 for the 2018 campaign. Bryden also helped herself offensively, batting .417 with a team-high .750 slugging percentage for the weekend. The righty leads the SoCon in ERA (1.34) and opposing batting average (.141).
Others nominated for player of the week: Caroline Taylor (Mercer), Becca Kale (UNCG) and Emma Sturdivant (Chattanooga).
Others nominated for pitcher of the week: Madison Ogle (ETSU) and Jill McElderry (Mercer).
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
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