Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - Feb. 10

Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - Feb. 10

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) –- Gardner-Webb catcher Taylor Dreher (Gilbert, S.C.) has been named the Big South Softball Player of the Week, while Presbyterian College’s Peyton Duncan (Tabor City, N.C.) is the Pitcher of the Week for games played the opening weekend of the 2026 season, it was announced today.  In addition, USC Upstate catcher Laney Jennings (Pendleton, S.C.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
 
Dreher opened the season with a .471 batting average, .882 slugging percentage, eight hits, seven doubles, seven RBI and 15 total bases in games against Youngstown State, Furman and Tarleton State.  She went 3-4 with two doubles against YSU in the season opener, was 3-5 with three doubles and three RBI in a 13-12 win against the Penguins on Saturday -- including a 2-run walk-off double in the 8th inning to win it, and finished with a 2-3 day with two runs, three driven in and two doubles against Furman on Sunday.
 
Duncan opened the year with a 2-1 win over Le Moyne in which she allowed just one hit with three strikeouts in four innings.  She then tossed a complete game on Saturday against Dayton, and gave up two earned runs while fanning four batters.
 
Jennings hit .563 (9-16) with four home runs, eight RBI, a 1.313 slugging clip and six runs scored to help the Spartans open 3-1.  After opening with a hit in each of the first two games, she went 4-5 with two homers and three RBI against Ohio, and followed with another two-homer game with four driven in against Saint Francis.  Her solo home runs against the Bobcats helped Upstate rally from a 7-3 deficit to win 10-9.  Against SFU, Jennings batted twice in the third inning and hit consecutive 2-run home runs in the 13-2 victory.
 
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Blakely Kingsmore (Charleston Southern), Sophia Knock (Longwood), Morgan Farthing (Presbyterian), Taliyah Thomas (USC Upstate) and Peyton Bryden (Winthrop).
 
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Riley Lauffer (Charleston Southern), Maggie Chapin (Longwood) and Lonna Addison (Winthrop).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Ava Abromavage (Longwood), Hali Duke (Presbyterian) and Rebecca Amos (Winthrop).