Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - April 29

Big South Announces Softball Players of the Week - April 29

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) –- Gardner-Webb’s Andrea Lyon (West Columbia, S.C.) and Longwood’s Lauren Taylor (Mechanicsville, Va.) have been named the Big South Softball Co-Player of the Week, while USC Upstate’s Sierra Maness (Woodruff, S.C.) is the Pitcher of the Week for games played April 22-28, it was announced today.  In addition, Longwood’s Cierra Gawryluk (Suffolk, Va.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
 
Lyon batted .538 (7-13) with three doubles and three RBI to help the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a 3-2 week.  She opened with a 2-2 day and RBI against USC Upstate last Monday, then went 2-3 with a run-scoring double at nationally-ranked Duke on Tuesday.  Lyon hit .375 in GWU’s Big South sweep of Presbyterian, which featured two doubles, two RBI, and a complete-game victory in the circle with six strikeouts in the series opener.
 
Taylor hit .467 (7-15) with three runs scored, two driven in and two homers in five games last week.  She opened with a solo home run and 2-3 effort against Liberty on Tuesday, followed by a walk against nationally-ranked Duke on Wednesday.  Taylor then led the Lancers to a series win over Charleston Southern, as she batted .500 in the three games with a home run, stolen base, and two multi-hit games.
 
Maness threw USC Upstate’s first perfect game since 2019 as she blanked South Carolina State last Wednesday, 8-0.  She fanned six batters in 6.0 innings, with 11 of the remaining 12 batters retired via groundout.
 
Gawryluk won twice in the circle against Charleston Southern and finished the week 2-1 with a 3.17 earned run average in four overall appearances.  She threw her second complete game shutout in as many weeks in the series opener vs. Charleston Southern on Saturday, as she limited the Bucs to just five hits and one walk in a 1-0 victory.  Gawryluk won the series finale on Sunday as she permitted four hits and two earned runs in the 8-3 win. 
 
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Denver Lauer (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Nealy Lamb (Charleston Southern), Andrea Lyon (Gardner-Webb) and Cierra Gawryluk (Longwood).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Nealy Lamb (Charleston Southern) and Sierra Maness (USC Upstate).