SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga catcher Jayce Purdy and Samford right-hander McKenzie Newcomb have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for games from April 29-May 5. The awards are selected by the league office.
Purdy hit .500, helping the Mocs to a 4-0 record last week. The junior drew a walk in the team’s 9-6 victory over Western Carolina on May 4. In game one of the two squads’ doubleheader the next day, Purdy was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs as the Mocs defeated the Catamounts, 4-3. Later that day, the native of Boonville, Indiana, had two home runs, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored as Chattanooga won 8-6 to complete the weekend sweep. In the field, Purdy committed zero errors and threw out two runners trying to steal.
Newcomb made three appearances inside the circle, picking up three wins to lead Samford last week. The junior tossed five innings in relief on April 30, striking out six batters and allowing one hit as the Bulldogs defeated Jacksonville State, 2-1. On May 4, the Meridianville, Alabama, native pitched a complete game, logging seven strikeouts and allowing one run in Samford’s 2-1 nine-inning win over Mercer. Newcomb threw another complete game the next day against Mercer, recording seven more strikeouts as the Bulldogs won 12-2.
Chattanooga (38-13, 16-5 SoCon), who is on an eight-game winning streak, clinched the regular-season crown this weekend and will be the No. 1 seed in the 2024 SoCon Softball Championship. The Mocs have a bye and will face either No. 4 seed Mercer (22-28, 11-10), No. 5 seed Wofford (22-22, 11-10) or No. 8 ETSU (11-38, 5-16) on Thursday, May 9, at 10 a.m. eastern. Samford (21-30, 12-9), who is the No. 3 seed in the SoCon Championship, will play its first game of the tournament on Wednesday, May 8, at 7 p.m. eastern versus either No. 6 seed Furman (24-29, 9-12) or No. 7 seed Western Carolina (16-33, 7-14).
Other nominees for player of the week: Kaitlyn Laudick (Furman), Betsy Eatmon (UNCG), McKayla Cothran (Samford) and Hannah Maddox (Wofford)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Emme Buzhardt (Furman), Reese Byrd (UNCG), Peja Goold (Chattanooga) and Abby Greenwood (Wofford)
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
March 18 Chloe Fabio, 3B, Sr., Furman
March 25 Alyssa Woods, OF, Sr., Mercer
April 1 Kailey Snell, SS, Sr., Chattanooga
April 8 Sydney Dirks, INF, Fr., Western Carolina
April 15 Baileigh Pitts, So., C/INF, Chattanooga
April 22 Maycin Brown, INF, 5th, UNCG
April 29 Kaili Phillips, Sr., INF, Chattanooga
May 6 Jayce Purdy, Jr., C, Chattanooga
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
March 18 Lauralee Scott, Jr., Furman
March 25 Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
April 1 Taylor Long, So., Chattanooga
April 8 Tessa Juett, Jr., Western Carolina
April 15 McKenzie Newcomb, Jr., Samford
April 22 Sierra Tufts, Sr., Furman
April 29 Alyssa Lavdis, Jr., Chattanooga
May 6 McKenzie Newcomb, Jr., Samford