SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina infielder Bailey Huneycutt and UNCG left-hander Maddie Spell have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from March 27 to April 2. The awards are selected by the league office.
Western Carolina’s Huneycutt batted .533 and slugged 1.000 in five games as the Catamounts went 3-2 in home games against Radford and Samford last week. In a doubleheader with Radford on Wednesday, Huneycutt had a hit and drew a walk in the first game to help the Catamounts to a 10-4 win. In the second game, the Oakboro, North Carolina, native was 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBIs and two runs scored in a 7-6 setback. On Saturday, Western Carolina defeated Samford, 7-5, in game one of a doubleheader as Huneycutt went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and a RBI, which came via a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning. Huneycutt was 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a three-run home run in the Catamounts’ 4-1 victory in game two. The fifth-year shortstop’s home run came in the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. On Sunday in the series finale with Samford, Huneycutt got another hit as Western Carolina fell 5-4.
Western Carolina (12-17, 2-4 SoCon) travels to Chattanooga (15-16, 0-3) for a weekend series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 7.
UNCG’s Spell started and threw a complete game in the Spartans’ lone game last week. The Lawrenceville, Georgia, native had four strikeouts, giving up just three hits and one earned run as UNCG defeated Charlotte, ranked 30th in the RPI, 4-2, on Wednesday. Spell, who also won the honor on Feb. 20, is in the top 10 in the SoCon in ERA (2.86) and innings pitched (66.0).
UNCG (23-12, 3-0) hosts North Carolina on Tuesday, April 4, for one game before traveling to Furman (12-21, 4-2) for a weekend series that begins on Friday, April 7.
Other nominees for player of the week: Riley Nayadley (ETSU), Riley Ludlam (Furman), Rebeca Laudino (Mercer), Blayke Batten (UNCG), Grier Bruce (Samford) and Presley Williamson (Chattanooga)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Brianna Bailey (ETSU), Emme Buzhardt (Furman), Grace Taylor (Mercer), McKenzie Newcomb (Samford), Taylor Long (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
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