SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG catcher Delaney Cumbie and Chattanooga right-hander Alyssa Lavdis have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from Feb. 27 to March 5. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
UNCG’s Cumbie hit .571 over three games as the Spartans swept Elon over the weekend at home. In Saturday’s doubleheader, Cumbie, who served as the team’s leadoff batter, went a combined 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored and was hit by three pitches as UNCG won game one, 3-2, and game two, 10-5. The next day, the Dunn, North Carolina, native was 2-for-2 at the plate with two doubles, a walk and a run scored as UNCG completed its weekend sweep with a 3-1 win. Cumbie finished the weekend with zero fielding errors behind the plate and at first base.
 
Chattanooga’s Lavdis had two appearances with one start last week. The Concord, Ohio, native pitched three innings in relief against Harvard on Friday, earning a win after giving up just one hit and striking out three batters in the Mocs’ 7-3 victory. The sophomore pitched a complete game with a career-best 15 strikeouts, which is one shy of the school record, in Chattanooga’s 5-0 shutout over Detroit. For the week, Lavdis pitched 10 innings with five hits, four walks and 18 strikeouts and a 0.00 ERA.
 
UNCG (12-7) travels to Charleston Southern for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 8, before heading to Clemson, South Carolina, to compete in the Clemson Classic versus Jacksonville, Bryant and host Clemson over the weekend. Chattanooga (9-5) is heading to Madeira Beach, Florida, to play in the Madeira Beach Invitational against Iowa, New Mexico State, Hartford, Sacred Heart and Bucknell.
 
Other nominees for player of the week: Kylie Helm (Mercer), Logan Champion (Samford) and Acelynn Sellers (Chattanooga)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Riley Hickok (Mercer) and McKenzie Newcomb (Samford)
 
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

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