SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU’s Nikki Grupp and Samford’s Emily Barnett have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played Feb. 22-28, the conference office announced Monday.
 
Grupp kicked off her 2021 campaign by going 6-for-14 from the plate, adding five RBIs and four runs scored as the Bucs split a pair of midweek games against Tennessee Tech and went 3-1 in the Wings ETC. Classic, hosted by USC Upstate. Three of Grupp’s six hits were extra-base knocks, including two home runs after not registering a single long ball in the shortened 2020 season. Grupp also drew five walks and only struck out once, posting a .600 on-base percentage. The native of Jacksonville, Florida, holds a .929 slugging percentage through the first six contests.
 
Barnett saw action in five of Samford’s six contests on the week, helping the Bulldogs to a 4-2 record in the span. The junior from Suwanee, Georgia, posted a 3-1 record and added a save, amassing 15.0 innings of work and allowing just one earned run, good enough for a 0.47 ERA on the week. She struck out 15 batters while allowing just three walks. Her best showing came in Sunday’s 5-2 win over Louisiana Monroe as she tossed six innings, allowing no runs on three hits.
 
ETSU (4-2) plays at Presbyterian on Friday, March 5, and Saturday, March 6, while Samford (6-5) will take part in a three-day tournament at Ole Miss over the weekend.
 
Others nominated for player of the week: Riley Ludlam (Furman), Kylie Helm (Mercer), Jordan Gontram (UNCG), Whitney Hinton (Samford), Cameren Swafford (Chattanooga) and Kailey McNeil (Western Carolina).
 
Others nominated for pitcher of the week: Kelly Schmidt (ETSU), Sierra Tufts (Furman), Madi Joice (Mercer), Alina Varga (UNCG) and Jayme Eilers (Western Carolina).
 
 2021 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 15 – Bailey Huneycutt, SS, Jr., Western Carolina
Feb. 22 – Courtney Ball, 3B, Fr., Chattanooga
March 1 – Nikki Grupp, 3B, R-Sr., ETSU
 
2021 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 15 – Jayme Eilers, So., Western Carolina
Feb. 22 – Abby Swaney, R-Fr., Samford
March 1 – Emily Barnett, Jr., Samford