SOFTBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Avery Mercer | Southern Wesleyan | Senior | First Base | Watkinsville, Georgia
Mercer had a big week as the Warriors split four contests against Mars Hill and Carson-Newman. In four games, Mercer posted six home runs, including two multi home run games. She posted two home runs, a double and drove in five on three hits in game two against Mars Hill. She then launched two more home runs and another double, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored and drove in four in game two against Carson-Newman. For the week, Mercer hit .600 and slugged 1.933 with an on base percentage of .600. She posted nine hits, six home runs and two doubles while driving in 12 and scoring seven runs.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Lilly Hartsell | Belmont Abbey | Freshman | Pitcher | Oakboro, North Carolina
Harstell went 3-0 in five appearances, three starts for the Crusaders last week. For the week she tossed three complete games, one shutout, owned an ERA of 1.22 and struck out 24 in 23 innings pitched. She tossed three straight compete games, all wins, against Catawba, Mars Hill and Coker. She struck out seven against Catawba before tossing a shutout with five strikeouts against Mars Hill. She only allowed three hits in the contests. The freshman then allowed one run on six hits and struck out eight in a 3-1 win over Coker. Hartsell closed the week with a save, tossing the final inning where she struck out two in a 6-5 win over Coker.
BASEBALL
PLAYER OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Jakhari Howard | Mount Olive | Junior | Outfield | Augusta, Georgia
A native of Augusta, Georgia, Howard put on an offensive showcase this week after posting a .462 batting average (6-of-13) with two grand slams, three doubles, nine runs batted in, and five runs scored. He also contributed a staggering 1.154 slugging percentage and .588 on-base percentage, as the Trojans went a perfect 4-0 overall.
On Tuesday, Howard tied an NCAA record after launching two grand slams against Georgia College, the 24th player in Division II history to accomplish the feat in a single game. He finished the game 2-for-3 with eight runs batted in, three runs scored, and two walks in a 14-3 win in the midweek. Over the weekend, Howard finished 4-for-10 at the plate in the series with Emmanuel behind three doubles, two runs scored, two walks and a stolen base. The Trojans swept the series behind a pair of walk-off victories to climb atop the Conference Carolinas standings.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Thomas Paxton | Belmont Abbey | Sophomore | Pitcher | Waxhaw, North Carolina
Paxton had a big week, posting two saves to help Belmont Abbey win the Conference Carolinas series over top-ranked North Greenville. He started by tossing the final two innings with four strikeouts in a 10-8 game-one win. He then earned the final two outs, one via strikeout in the Crusaders' 4-3 game-two victory. For the week he recorded an ERA of 0.00 with five strikeouts in two and two-thirds innings while holding the Trailblazers to a .111 batting average.
ACROBATICS & TUMBLING
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Zoey Franklin | Mars Hill | Sophomore | Top/Tumbler | Rome, Georgia
In two meets last week, Franklin helped the Lions to a pair of program high scores and multiple scores of at least 9.0. Franklin competed in nine heats against Presbyterian and 10 heats against Emmanuel. She helped the compulsory pyramid group score a program high 9.80 against Presbyterian before setting a six element acro program record of 8.85 against Emmanuel. The Lions scored a season-high of 241.885 against Presbyterian before posting a season-high team event score of 81.82 against Emmanuel. Franklin also helped the Lions to seven other scores higher than 9.0 in the two meets.
SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK - Previous Winners
Marlena Costanzo | Limestone | Junior | Top/Tumbler | Lovettsville, Virginia
Costanzo helped the Saints to a win over Francis Marion with a solid pyramid event. She contributed as a top, scoring 9.90/10.00 in the duo pyramid and 9.85/10.00 in the open pyramid.