SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Wofford infielder Kate Platte and UNCG right-hander Salem Ward have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from Feb. 10-16. The awards are selected by the league office.

Wofford’s Platte hit .733, going 11-for-15 at the plate during the Hatter Classic in DeLand, Florida. The Terriers’ leadoff batter began the weekend going 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs and a walk in the team’s 6-5 setback against Bethune-Cookman on Valentine’s Day. Later that day, the sophomore had a hit and a walk in a 3-0 win over Stetson. On Feb. 15, the native of Aiken, South Carolina, finished with three hits and a stolen base in both of the squad’s games, which were a 2-0 win over Fairfield and a 1-0 loss to Stetson. In the final game of the weekend on Feb. 16, Platte had a hit, and a run scored in the team’s 3-0 victory against Fairfield. Platte also had a perfect fielding percentage with 17 putouts for the weekend.

UNCG’s Ward had four appearances inside the circle over the weekend during the Spiro Classic in Greensboro, North Carolina, collecting four wins over two starts. The junior began the weekend with a complete game shutout in a 3-0 win against Merrimack on Feb. 13, finishing with 10 strikeouts and just one walk. The next day, Ward came in out of the bullpen in a 6-1 victory over Merrimack, tossing another 10 strikeouts over five innings of work. On Feb. 16 against Saint Francis, the Lexington, North Carolina, native threw her second complete game, throwing seven strikeouts in a 7-2 win. Later that day, Ward pitched 5.1 innings in her second relief appearance of the weekend versus Toledo, recording another two strikeouts in a 16-14 triumph. Ward threw 24.1 innings last weekend, posting a 1.73 ERA in her appearances.

Wofford (7-3) hosts the Sparkle City Invite on Feb. 21-23, welcoming Colgate, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State and Eastern Kentucky over the weekend. UNCG (8-2), who is on a seven-game winning streak, travels to Winthrop on Feb. 19, before hosting UNCG Invitational on Feb. 21-23. The Spartans will take on Iona, Towson, Tennessee Tech and George Washington during the tournament.

 
Other nominees for player of the week: Sylvia Burroughs (Furman), Sietske Drijvers (Mercer), Samantha Beck (UNCG), Grier Bruce (Samford) and Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Angelina Ricciardi (Furman), Grace Roark (Mercer), Riley Lamb (Chattanooga) and Margaret Axelson (Wofford)
 
2025 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 10                                   Acelynn Sellers, Sr., INF, Chattanooga

Feb. 17                                   Kate Platte, R-So., INF, Wofford

2025 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 10                                   Margaret Axelson, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 17                                   Salem Ward, Jr., UNCG