SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG infielder Brooklynn Maxwell and Spartans right-hander Salem Ward have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from March 4-10. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Maxwell hit .522 with a 1.217 slugging percentage over six games last week as UNCG went 4-2. The Virginia Beach, Virginia, native went 12-for-23 with three home runs, three triples, a double, 12 RBIs and eight runs scored, while registering zero strikeouts. In the field, the senior had 10 putouts and 19 assists with zero errors. In the Spartans’ 4-2 win over Charleston Southern on March 8, Maxwell delivered a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. She was also one of four Spartans with a multi-hit game against Big Ten opponent Minnesota, where the Golden Gophers ended up on top 8-6 after eight innings on March 5. She is currently leading the league in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, RBIs, triples and home runs.
 
Ward had two appearances inside the circle last week for the Spartans, pitching a total of 12 1/3 innings. In the team’s 5-3 win over Merrimack on March 7, the sophomore entered the game in the top of the second inning with the team down 3-0. Ward proceeded to throw the final 5 1/3 innings, recording six strikeouts and zero walks. Two days later, the native of Lexington, North Carolina, tossed her first collegiate complete game in an 8-2 victory over UMass, logging another five strikeouts in the contest. Ward also had three at-bats last week, accounting for two hits and a run scored.
 
UNCG (15-12) hosts App State on March 13.
 
Other nominees for player of the week: Emma Dorval (Mercer), Katie Campbell (Samford), Baileigh Pitts (Chattanooga) and Lily Bell (Western Carolina)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Gabby Ellis (Mercer), Karley Fuller (Samford) and Alyssa Lavdis (Chattanooga)
 
2024 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 12                                   Tori Hedgecock, Jr., INF, Mercer
Feb. 19                                   Sara Muir, Jr., 1B/P, ETSU
Feb. 26                                   Anna White, Sr., 1B, UNCG
March 4                                   Baileigh Pitts, So., C/INF, Chattanooga
March 11                                 Brooklynn Maxwell, INF, Sr., UNCG
 
2024 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 12                                   Margaret Axelson, So., Wofford
Feb. 19                                   Taylor Miller, Fr., Furman
Feb. 26                                   Maddie Spell, R-Jr., UNCG
March 4                                   Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
March 11                                 Salem Ward, So., UNCG