SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU first baseman Sara Muir and Samford right-hander McKenzie Newcomb have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from Feb. 20-26. The awards are selected by the league office.
ETSU’s Muir hit .476 over seven games as the Buccaneers went 3-4 in a doubleheader at Radford and during the Wolfpack Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the Radford doubleheader, Muir went a combined 3-for-7 with two solo home runs and a walk as the Buccaneers dropped game one, 7-1, and game two, 7-5, on Tuesday. Two days later, the Buccaneers won their first game of the season against NC State, 5-0, as Muir drew a walk in the contest. On Friday, Muir drew two walks and hit another solo home run versus James Madison as the Dukes won 5-2. Later that day, the Sequatchie, Tennessee, native drew a walk and scored a run versus NC State as ETSU fell 8-2. The Buccaneers won their final two games of the Wolfpack Classic against Pennsylvania on Sunday. Muir went a combined 6-for-8 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored as ETSU won the first game, 5-1, and game two, 7-3.
Samford’s Newcomb had three appearances, with two starts, over the last week. The native of Meridianville, Alabama, started and pitched four innings versus seventh-ranked Alabama on Wednesday, giving up just one earned run on six hits and striking out one batter in earning a no-decision in the Crimson Tide’s 3-2 win. Newcomb entered the game in relief two days later versus Southern Indiana and struck out nine batters while giving up one hit in the Bulldogs’ 1-0 setback. The sophomore pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts in Samford’s 3-1 victory over IUPUI. For the week, Newcomb had 18 strikeouts and just two walks, allowing just one earned run in 16 2/3 innings inside the circle.
ETSU (3-11) hosts App State on Tuesday, Feb. 28, in its lone game of the week. Samford (5-9) travels to Kennesaw State on Tuesday, Feb. 28, before heading to Athens, Georgia, to compete in the UGA Tournament against Ball State, Stetson and host Georgia over the weekend.
Other nominees for player of the week: Riley Ludlam (Furman), Jaden Cheek (UNCG), Logan Champion (Samford) and Acelynn Sellers (Chattanooga)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Brianna Bailey (ETSU) and Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
2023 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 13 Delaney Cumbie, 5th, C, UNCG
Feb. 20 Riley Ludlam, Sr., C, Furman
Feb. 27 Sara Muir, So., P/1B, ETSU
2023 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 13 Tessa Juett, So., Western Carolina
Feb. 20 Maddie Spell, R-So., UNCG
Feb. 27 McKenzie Newcomb, So., Samford