Lanier and McBroom named USA South Athletes of the Week
By Chuck Tidmore
Sports Information Assistant
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Huntingdon's Raina Lanier and Caroline McBroom were named USA South Athletic Conference Athletes of the Week on Monday.
Lanier was named Softball Pitcher of the Week while McBroom was named Women's Tennis Player of the Week.
Lanier finished her weekend with a 2-0 record as the Lady Hawks took on conference opponents Salem and Piedmont. Huntingdon swept the Spirits and split with the Lions to start their USA South schedule with a 3-1 record. In the two wins, she pitched 14 innings, recorded 16 strikeouts, had two walks, gave up one run and nine hits.
Against Salem, the junior pitched a complete-game and allowed just one run. She finished with eight strikeouts and scattered six hits while walking no batters. She also drove in the Lady Hawks' first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning.
On Sunday against Piedmont, the Opelika, Ala. native pitched a complete-game shutout and recorded eight strikeouts while giving up three hits and two walks.
The Huntingdon softball team returns to action on Wednesday at 1 p.m. as Martin Methodist visits Montgomery.
McBroom, a native from Columbia, Tenn. appeared in one match this week and made it count. The junior won at No. 6 singles, clinching a 5-4 win over Berry College, the 12th ranked team in the ITA Atlantic South Region.
McBroom won her fist set 6-3 but followed with a 1-6 second set loss. She rebounded and took a 6-1 win to clinch the match. In doubles, she teamed with Heather Tabor in the No. 3 spot and won 8-4.
The Lady Hawks host Millsaps College on Friday.
Below is the complete list of Athletes of the Week.
BASEBALL
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Hunter Peck, Ferrum - The sophomore from Franklin, Virginia earned a complete-game, seven-inning, shutout victory at USA South foe Methodist, a 14-0 win, in his only appearance on the mound last week for the Panthers. Peck allowed just one hit and two walks while striking out 12 batters. Also Nominated: Jonathan Fleckenstein, LaGrange; Ryan Grant, N.C. Wesleyan; Cody Johnson, Averett; Ben McCurley, Piedmont; Zach McGrady, Huntingdon; Trevor Pence, William Peace; Matt Reitz, Covenant.
Baseball Rookie of the Week
Nathan Holt, William Peace - The freshman outfielder from Sanford, North Carolina went a combined 4-for-7 (.571) with a .625 on-base percentage and an .857 slugging percentage to go along with one run scored, one run batted in, one triple, one walk and two stolen bases as the Pacers posted a 3-2 record last week. In a two-game split with Eastern, Holt saw action in game one, going hitless. In capturing two out of three games over USA South rival N.C. Wesleyan, Holt saw action in the two victories, going a combined perfect 4-for-4 with one run scored, one run batted in, one triple, one walk and two stolen bases. Also Nominated: Mathias Carter, Methodist; Chase McKinney, Averett; Wes Powell, Huntingdon.
Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Tyler Beyel, Methodist - The freshman from Camden, North Carolina picked up his first collegiate win in a 4-1 victory over USA South foe Ferrum in his only appearance on the mound for the Monarchs last week. Beyel tossed 5.2 innings and allowed one run on five hits with five walks and five strikeouts. Also Nominated: Alex Ansted, Averett; Sam Carpenter, Piedmont; Anthony Rodriguez, Maryville; Noah Shrock, N.C. Wesleyan.
SOFTBALL
Softball Pitcher of the Week
Raina Lanier, Huntingdon - The junior from Opelika, Alabama earned two complete-game victories in two starts last week for the Hawks. Lanier tossed a total of 14.0 innings and posted an ERA of 0.50 while allowing one run on nine hits with two walks and 16 strikeouts. In a 2-1 victory over Salem, Lanier allowed one run on six hits with zero walks and eight strikeouts. In a 1-0 victory over Piedmont, Lanier allowed one run on three hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Also Nominated: Morgan Corland, Maryville; Melissa Eckman, Piedmont; Taylor Jackson, Meredith; Logan Lowery, N.C. Wesleyan; Lauryn Smith, Salem; Amanda Wright, Averett.
Softball Rookie of the Week
Morgan Brewer, Maryville - The freshman infielder from Alcoa, Tennessee went a combined 9-for-11 (.818) with a .769 on-base percentage and a 1.636 slugging percentage to go along with five runs scored, nine RBI, one double, one triple, two home runs, one walk, one stolen base and one sacrifice fly as the Scots earned a 4-0 record last week versus USA South competition. In a doubleheader sweep of Agnes Scott, Brewer was a combined perfect 6-for-6 with four runs scored, seven RBI, one double, one triple and two home runs. In a doubleheader sweep of Wesleyan, Brewer was a combined 3-for-5 with one run scored, two RBI, one walk, one stolen base and one sacrifice fly. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Aherron, Averett; Amber Arnold, LaGrange; Casey Grover, Covenant; Samantha Jacobs, Methodist; Samara Miller, Huntingdon; Sydney Vaughn, Salem.
Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
Chloe Hespeler, Methodist - The freshman from Ledyard, Connecticut earned two victories in two starts last week for the Monarchs. Hespeler tossed a total of 11.0 innings and posted a 0.64 ERA while allowing three runs, only one of which was earned, on 11 hits with two walks and one strikeout. In a 6-2 victory over Division II Barton, Hespeler went four innings and allowed two runs, only one of which was earned, on five hits with two walks. In a 3-1 win over USA South foe Ferrum, Hespeler went the distance and allowed one unearned run on six hits with one strikeout. Also Nominated: Kaitlyn Aherron, Averett; Ashton Lambeth, Ferrum.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week
Julianna Surgent, Piedmont - The Huntingtown, Maryland senior midfielder totaled a game-high five ground balls, a co-game high five caused turnovers and three draw controls to go along with two goals in a 20-5 victory over Adrian in the Pride's lone contest last week. Also Nominated: Graceanne Gershner, Ferrum; Tori Manahan, Methodist.
Lacrosse Rookie of the Week
Monti Hendrix, Methodist - The Buford, Georgia freshman defender tallied five points on four goals and one assist with five ground balls, four caused turnovers and three draw controls in a 2-0 week for the Monarchs. In an 8-6 win over USA South rival Greensboro, Hendrix notched a goal with one ground ball. In a 15-10 victory over Virginia Wesleyan, Hendrix totaled three goals, one assist, four ground balls, four caused turnovers and three draw controls. Also Nominated: Sharity Bayerlein, LaGrange; Rowan Bumpass, Piedmont; Maddy Morrison, Huntingdon.
MEN'S TENNIS
Men's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Lauri Soome, Averett - The freshman from Kuopio, Finland earned a 1-1 record at number-two singles and a 2-0 mark at the top doubles spot last week for the Cougars versus USA South competition. In singles play, Soome earn a victories over opponents from Methodist and N.C. Wesleyan. In doubles action, Soome teamed with Caius Blomqvist to defeat the top doubles team from N.C. Wesleyan. Also Nominated: David Applequist, N.C. Wesleyan; Jackson Hill, Piedmont.
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Women's Tennis Rookie of the Week
Morgan Buchholz, Piedmont - The freshman from Sugar Hill, Georgia earned victories at both number-one singles and doubles over opponents from Penn State Berks in the team's only match last week. In doubles action, Buchholz teamed with Amanda Blackwell to gain the win. Also Nominated: Mariah Bastos, Huntingdon.
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