SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga infielder Baileigh Pitts and Furman right-hander Kristyn Embler have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from March 30-April 5. The awards are selected by the league office.

Pitts hit .615 over four games as Chattanooga went 3-1 last week. In an 8-7 win over Georgia State on March 31, the senior sparked a seventh-inning rally with a sac fly as the Mocs scored five runs in the frame, sending the game to extras before hitting a walk-off two-run double in the eighth inning. The native of Ringgold, Georgia, had a home run and a RBI single in the team’s 8-0 win over Mercer in the first game of their series against the Bears on April 3. Later that day, Pitts was 2-for-4 with a run scored in a 6-5 10-inning triumph. In the series finale on April 4, Pitts had two hits and a pair of walks in a 5-2 setback versus Mercer.

Embler threw a complete-game shutout, striking out two batters and surrendering zero extra base hits in a 3-0 win at UNCG on April 4. The freshman’s performance inside the circle fueled the Paladins’ first conference win of the season and gave the Spartans their first conference defeat of 2026. Along with her strong performance as a pitcher, the native of Harrisburg, North Carolina, drove in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the first inning.

Chattanooga (15-21-1, 3-6 SoCon) welcomes ETSU for a weekend series on April 11-12. Furman (6-30, 1-8) hosts a doubleheader against Presbyterian on April 7, before going to Mercer for a series on April 11-12.

Other nominees for player of the week: Macy Michael (UNCG), Maya McPherson (Western Carolina), and Brianna Stanley (Wofford)

Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Taylor Long (Chattanooga), Amanda Fulton (Western Carolina), and Margaret Axelson (Wofford)
 
2026 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9               Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 16             Olivia Shaw, Jr., SS, Samford

Feb. 23             Brianna Stanley, So., INF, Wofford

March 2            Riley Croley, Fr., 3B, ETSU

March 9            Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 16          Avery Barton, Sr., SS, Mercer

March 23          Maya McPherson, Jr., 3B, Western Carolina

March 30          Katie Campbell, Jr., C/1B, Samford

April 6               Baileigh Pitts, Sr., 1B, Chattanooga

2026 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week

Feb. 9               Madison Starr, Jr., Mercer

Feb. 16             Abby Greenwood, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 23             Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 2            Gabrielle Fowler, Jr., ETSU

March 9            Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 16          Amanda Fulton, So., Western Carolina

March 23          Brooklyn Shroyer, Jr., UNCG

March 30          Reese Hickey, Fr., Samford

April 6               Kristyn Embler, Fr., Furman