SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG left fielder Grace Loftin and Chattanooga right-hander Hannah Wood have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from March 14-20. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Loftin hit .533 as UNCG went 2-2 on the week, recording seven RBIs, three multi-hit games and five extra-base hits. The freshman from Conover, North Carolina, opened her week Tuesday with a 2-for-3 showing with three RBIs in the Spartans’ 8-1 win at Charlotte, driving in what would eventually become the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the first inning and adding a two-run double in the sixth. She was 2-for-3 with a solo home run at Elon in a 4-2 loss in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader before going 1-for-4 in the nightcap, a 4-3 setback in 10 innings. She wrapped up her week with three doubles and three RBIs in Sunday’s 10-9 home win in eight innings as UNCG avoided the sweep.
 
Wood went 2-0 with a save and a 0.40 ERA for Chattanooga last week. The junior from Chattanooga, Tennessee, threw 17 1/3 innings over four appearances, allowing just one earned run on 10 hits and no walks, striking out six. In Chattanooga’s 5-3 win over Georgia State on Tuesday, Wood entered with one out in the first and the Mocs trailing 3-0 and worked 6 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up her first win of the week. After throwing an inning of scoreless relief in a 9-0 win over Bucknell on Friday, she tossed a complete-game shutout of the Bison the following day, allowing just four hits and striking out three in seven innings of work in a 5-0 win. Wood earned the save in Sunday’s 4-3 win over Southeastern Louisiana, surrendering her only run of the week despite allowing just two hits in 2 2/3 innings.
 
UNCG (17-10, 0-0 SoCon) opens SoCon play this weekend when it hosts Mercer (7-20, 0-0) for a three-game set on Saturday and Sunday. Chattanooga (16-13, 0-0) visits Lipscomb on Wednesday before hosting Furman (9-13, 0-0) this weekend to open league play.
 
Other nominees for player of the week: Riley Ludlam (Furman), Alyssa Woods (Mercer), Timberlyn Shurbutt (Samford) and Kaili Phillips (Chattanooga).
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Morgan Scott (UNCG) and McKenzie Newcomb (Samford).
 
2022 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 14             Timberlyn Shurbutt, Sr., 3B, Samford
Feb. 21             Jordan Gontram, Gr., DP, UNCG
Feb. 28             Blayke Batten, Jr., 1B/RF, UNCG
March 7            Delaney Cumbie, Sr., C, UNCG
March 14          Mary Katherine Tedder, Gr., UT, Samford
March 21          Grace Loftin, Fr., LF, UNCG
 
2022 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 14             Jayme Eilers, Jr., Western Carolina
Feb. 21             Brooke Parrott, Jr., Chattanooga
Feb. 28             Jordan Walters, So., Samford
March 7            Sierra Tufts, So., Furman
March 14          Morgan Scott, Jr., UNCG
March 21          Hannah Wood, Jr., Chattanooga