SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina infielder Sydney Dirks and Mercer right-hander Gabby Ellis have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from April 21-27. The awards are selected by the league office.

Dirks hit .700 over the weekend as the Catamounts won two of three games against Furman. The sophomore began the series with three hits and a run scored in a 5-4 win, a game that took nine innings, on April 26. Later that day, Dirks was 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored in a 7-6 setback. In the series finale on April 27, the native of Mocksville, North Carolina, had another two hits, including a two-run blast in the fourth inning, and three runs scored as Western Carolina defeated Furman, 10-1. Dirks is currently second on the Catamounts in batting average (.319) and RBIs (29).

Ellis threw a pair of complete-game shutouts for the Bears over the weekend. After Mercer dropped the opening game of its series in game one of a doubleheader on April 26, the sophomore stepped into the circle in game two, striking out four batters and surrendering just two hits in an 8-0 win in five innings against league-leading UNCG. The product of Green Cove Springs, Florida, followed that up the next day with three strikeouts as the Bears defeated the Spartans, 7-0, to win the series. Ellis’ performances came against an UNCG squad that leads the league in hits (415) and home runs (76).

Western Carolina (22-28, 6-12 SoCon) concludes its regular season with a weekend series at UNCG (36-16, 12-6) on May 3-4. Mercer (28-23, 8-9) travels to Furman (15-33, 5-13) for its final series of the regular season on May 3-4.

Other nominees for player of the week: Kiley Perry (Furman), Parris Wiggs (Mercer), Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga) and Rivers Sampson (Wofford)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Peja Goold (Chattanooga), Tessa Juett (Western Carolina) and Margaret Axelson (Wofford)

 
2025 SoCon Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 10                                   Acelynn Sellers, Sr., INF, Chattanooga

Feb. 17                                   Kate Platte, R-So., INF, Wofford

Feb. 24                                   Hallie Langford, Jr., OF, Mercer

March 3                                   Maya McPherson, So., INF, Western Carolina

March 10                                 Lily Bell, So., INF, Western Carolina

March 17                                 Hadley Gardner, Fr., OF, UNCG

March 24                                 Hallie Langford, Jr., OF, Mercer

March 31                                 Ella Nelson, Fr., INF, Samford

April 7                                     Grier Bruce, Sr., INF, Samford

April 14                                   Katie Campbell, So., INF, Samford

April 21                                   Olivia Shaw, So., INF, Samford

April 28                                   Sydney Dirks, So., INF, Western Carolina

2025 SoCon Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 10                                   Margaret Axelson, Jr., Wofford

Feb. 17                                   Salem Ward, Jr., UNCG

Feb. 24                                   Natalya Salo, Fr., Wofford

March 3                                   Olivia Trout, Jr., Samford

March 10                                 Peja Goold, Jr., Chattanooga

March 17                                 Jorde Chartrand, Sr., UNCG

March 24                                 Tessa Juett, Sr., Western Carolina

March 31                                 Taylor Long, Jr., Chattanooga

April 7                                     Jordyn Partain, Sr., Samford

April 14                                   Abby Greenwood, So., Wofford

April 21                                   Peja Goold, Jr., Chattanooga

April 28                                   Gabby Ellis, So., Mercer