SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga infielder Kaili Phillips and UNCG right-hander Rhyann Jones have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from March 13-19. The awards are selected by the league office.
Chattanooga’s Phillips hit .500, had an on-base percentage of .588 and slugged 1.429 over five games last week as the Mocs went 2-3 on a week-long trip to the state of Florida. On Wednesday, Phillips was 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored in a 7-6 win over Princeton. The Ooltewah, Tennessee, native hit her first homer in the fifth inning to put the team ahead 6-2 and her second of the contest would come in the bottom of the seventh in walk-off fashion to give the Mocs the victory. Later that day, Phillips drew a walk in a 3-1 win over Lehigh. The next day, the junior went 2-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored and another home run in a 5-4 setback at FGCU. Chattanooga and FGCU would play a doubleheader on Friday, as the Eagles took game one, 6-0, and game two 4-3. In game two, Phillips was 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk, two RBIs and a run scored. Phillips’ homer came in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 3 before FGCU would get its second walk-off win against the Mocs in as many days.
Chattanooga (14-10) travels to Virginia Tech for a weekend series beginning with a single game on Friday, March 24, and a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25.
UNCG’s Jones had three appearances with two starts last week. After a relief appearance against Notre Dame on Wednesday, the freshman from Daleville, Virginia, had two starts in the Spartan Classic over the weekend and surrendered zero runs. Jones threw five innings in a 9-0 shutout of Army on Saturday, giving up just three hits and striking out one batter. The next day, Jones tossed four innings and gave up just two hits and struck out four batters as UNCG defeated Gardner-Webb 5-3. For the week, Jones had a 1.85 ERA in 11 1/3 innings pitched.
UNCG (18-12) hosts Towson for a midweek game on Thursday, March 23, before playing its first conference series of the season against ETSU (7-18) on Saturday and Sunday.
Other nominees for player of the week: Cameron Young (ETSU), Jessie Shipley (UNCG) and Logan Champion (Samford)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Brianna Bailey (ETSU), McKenzie Newcomb (Samford) and Taylor long (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
March 6 Delaney Cumbie, 5th, C, UNCG
March 13 Brooklynn Brewington, Sr., OF, Western Carolina
March 20 Kaili Phillips, Jr., INF, Chattanooga
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
March 6 Alyssa Lavdis, So., Chattanooga
March 13 Peja Goold, Fr., Chattanooga
March 20 Rhyann Jones, Fr., UNCG