SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman shortstop Alex Rose Molinar and Samford right-hander Jordyn Partain have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from April 3-9. The awards are selected by the league office.
Furman’s Molinar batted .571, had an on-base percentage of .700 and slugged 1.143 in three games last week as the Paladins dropped a game at Clemson and swept UNCG in a doubleheader. After drawing a walk in a 4-1 setback against fourth-ranked Clemson on Wednesday, the junior from San Diego, California, went 2-for-2 with a home run, a walk and two runs scored in the first game of the team’s doubleheader with the Spartans the next day. The Paladins won game one, 5-4, in nine innings. In game two, the shortstop was 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 9-8 victory, with Molinar scoring the winning run off a triple by teammate Chrissy Fleming in the bottom of the seventh inning, moving Furman into first place in the conference standings.
Furman (14-22, 6-2 SoCon) travels to College of Charleston for a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, April 12, before hosting Mercer (12-26, 3-3) for a weekend series beginning on Saturday, April 15.
Samford’s Partain threw her third complete game of the season in her lone appearance last week. The Macon, Georgia, native allowed just three hits and one unearned run, while striking out two batters as the Bulldogs defeated ETSU, 5-1, in the second game of the two teams’ doubleheader on Thursday. The sophomore’s complete-game win was her second of conference play as she also threw a complete game and got a win against Mercer on March 25.
Samford (17-22, 6-3) hosts 12th-ranked Alabama on Tuesday, April 11, and will resume conference play with a weekend trip to UNCG (23-15, 3-2) for three games beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15.
Other nominees for player of the week: Rebeca Laudino (Mercer), Samantha Lagrama (UNCG), Merritt Cahoon (Samford), Kaili Phillips (Chattanooga) and Bailey Huneycutt (Western Carolina)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Sierra Tufts (Furman), Peja Goold (Chattanooga) and Jayme Eilers (Western Carolina
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
March 27 Hannah Poole, Jr., 2B, Furman
April 3 Bailey Huneycutt, 5th, INF, Western Carolina
April 10 Alex Rose Molinar, SS, Jr., Furman
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
March 27 McKenzie Newcomb, So., Samford
April 3 Maddie Spell, R-So., UNCG
April 10 Jordyn Partain, So., Samford