Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - March 4
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) –- Presbyterian infielder
Kasey Wolfe (Spartanburg, S.C.) has been named the Big South Softball Player of the Week, while USC Upstate's
Maddie Drerup (Fort Mill, S.C.) is the Pitcher of the Week for games played Feb. 24-March 2, it was announced today. In addition, Winthrop's
Katie Beck (Virginia Beach, Va.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
Wolfe posted elite efficiency numbers as the Blue Hose won twice at the Catamount Classic in Western Carolina, batting .600 (9-15) over the course of five games to go along with 2 doubles, 2 home runs, and 7 RBI while also being walked four times during the weekend, bringing her OBP to .684 over that span. Both of her home runs came in the first inning against Rhode Island & Western Carolina, and she tallied four consecutive multi-hit games and batted in at least two runs in three straight contests. In the field, she notched 7 assists and 4 putouts at her third-base position.
Drerup made three appearances in the circle with two starts. She went 3-0 with 13 strikeouts in 19.0 innings pitched, walked five and tossed two complete games. Drerup had five strikeouts in a complete game win over Furman, struck out six in a complete game victory over St. Bonaventure, and earned a relief win against Youngstown State. She finished the week with a 1.47 ERA.
Beck was inserted into the starting lineup the past weekend and made an immediate impact. Her weekend started on Friday vs. Marist with a career-high 5 RBI. In the bottom of the second Beck hit a two-run home run with one out for a 2-0 lead. In the 6th inning leading 2-1, Beck cleared the bases with a double down the left field line for a 5-1 lead. Against Southern Indiana on Friday, the Eagles trailed 2-0 and had two on base (1st/2nd) when she ripped a shot to left center that hit off the top of the fence and stayed inside the park, scoring one run. In the 1-0 loss to Charlotte, Beck led off the 4th inning which eventually led to the bases being loaded but came up empty. For the final game of the week, Beck moved up in the lineup and belted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first vs. St. Bonaventure. She led off the 3rd inning with a single and eventually came around to score. In the bottom of the fourth Beck homered again, a solo home run to right center for a 10-2 lead as the Eagles ended winning in five innings. Beck the week slugging 1.500 and drove in nine of the 16 runs the team scored on the week.
Also nominated for Player of the Week:
Blakely Kingsmore (Charleston Southern),
Jailyn Tineo (Gardner-Webb),
Taliyah Thomas (USC Upstate) and
Katie Beck (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week:
Riley Lauffer (Charleston Southern),
Anna Hornbaker (Gardner-Webb) and
Peyton Duncan (Presbyterian).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week:
Anna Hornbaker (Gardner-Webb),
Baxleigh Arnette (Presbyterian) and
Sophia Kardatzke (USC Upstate).