SoCon Softball Player, Pitcher of the Week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG outfielder Hadley Gardner and Spartans right-hander Jorde Chartrand have been named the Southern Conference softball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts from March 10-16. The awards are selected by the league office.

Gardner hit .545 over four games for the Spartans last week. On March 14 against Fairfield, the freshman entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning and proceeded to hit a game-winning two-run home run in a 4-2 victory. Later that day, Gardner was 3-for-4 with two home runs, four RBIs and three runs scored in a 13-1 win over Charleston Southern. The next day, the native of Winchester, Tennessee, had another home run two-run blast in a 6-0 win over Charleston Southern. Gardner also had a walk and a run scored in a 6-0 shutout of Fairfield on March 15.

Chartrand had two appearances inside the circle, picking up a win in the process. The senior began her week tossing eight innings in the team’s 4-2 win against Fairfield, striking out seven batters and surrendering just one unearned run. In the team’s 6-1 triumph versus Charleston Southern, the product of Weyburn, Saskatchewan, Canada, logged another four strikeouts in six innings of work. Chartrand also went 5-for-13 at the plate last week, hitting two home runs and driving in three RBIs.

UNCG (21-7) hosts Radford on March 19, before opening conference play with a weekend series at Chattanooga (18-8) on March 22-23. The Spartans and Mocs are the winners of the last six SoCon tournament titles that have been played.

Other nominees for player of the week: Cameron Young (ETSU), Tori Hedgecock (Mercer), Olivia Shaw (Samford) and Abbi Campbell (Wofford)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Emme Buzhardt (Furman), Gabby Ellis (Mercer) 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

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