SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina’s Bailey Huneycutt and Jayme Eilers have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played Feb. 12-14, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Huneycutt started off the season by going 4-for-10 from the plate, adding three RBIs, two runs scored, and a home run as Western Carolina went 2-2 at the Stinger Classic hosted by Alabama State. The shortstop opened her junior year with a two-run home run in Western Carolina’s 7-0 win over Alabama State on Feb. 12. The next day, Huneycutt added another RBI with a single to left field, putting the Catamounts up 2-0 en route to a 4-1 win over North Alabama. Later that afternoon, the native of Oakboro, North Carolina, went 1-for-3 with a double in a 2-1 setback to Tennessee Tech and concluded the tournament with a hit, a walk, and a run scored in the second contest against the Golden Eagles, a 9-2 loss, a day later.
 
Eilers began the 2021 campaign with a complete game shutout against Alabama State, helping the Catamounts to a win in Western Carolina’s season opener at the Stinger Classic. The sophomore allowed just five hits and struck out seven, three of which ended innings, in the Feb. 12 win. The following day, the native of Sterling, Illinois, tossed her second complete game, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out six in the 2-1 loss to Tennessee Tech. She finished the week with a 1.38 ERA.
 
Others nominated for player of the week: Mekhi Mayfield (Samford).
 
2021 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 15 – Bailey Huneycutt, SS, Jr., Western Carolina
 
2021 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 15 – Jayme Eilers, So., Western Carolina