Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - April 27
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) –- USC Upstate’s
Sophia Kardatzke (Jacksonville, Fla.) has been named the Big South Softball Player of the Week, while Gardner-Webb’s
Alli Stidham (Saginaw, Texas) is the Pitcher of the Week honoree for games played April 20-26, it was announced today. In addition, Upstate’s
Laila Landrum (Simpsonville, S.C.) is the Freshman of the Week recipient.
Kardatzke posted a .526 batting average, .947 slugging clip and .571 on-base percentage as she was 10-for-19 at the plate with nine RBI, seven runs scored, three stolen bases and four extra-base hits (two doubles and two home runs). She had two doubles and three runs scored in a doubleheader split with South Carolina State, then went 7-11 ( =.636) in the Spartans’ Big South series win over Charleston Southern. Kardatzke had two hits, two runs and two RBI in the opener; went 3-3 with a home run in the second game, and finished her week with two hits -- including a homer, along with four driven in and two runs scored in the finale.
Stidham earned all three wins in the circle for Gardner-Webb as the Runnin’ Bulldogs swept Longwood to qualify for the upcoming Big South Softball Championship. She totaled 21 of a possible 23 innings against the Lancers and allowed just three earned runs for a 1.00 ERA and struck out nine batters across her three appearances. Stidham pitched a complete game, five-hit shutout in winning the opener, 1-0, then hurled all nine frames in a 3-2 extra inning victory in game two. She tossed the final five innings on Sunday for her third victory on the weekend.
Landrum contributed with timely pinch hits, as he was 3-for-5 ( =.600) with two doubles and two RBI in limited action at the plate. She had an RBI double vs. South Carolina State, posted a run-scoring single against Charleston Southern, and recorded a double against CSU in the finale.
Also nominated for Player of the Week:
Alli Stidham (Gardner-Webb),
Maggie Hiatt (Longwood) and
Darrah Nickens (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week:
Maggie Chapin (Longwood) and
Dakota Redmon (Radford).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week:
Lauren Faulkner (Longwood).