The USA South Athletic Conference has released the Player of the Week listing and the Lions have three athletes on the listing.
Matt Vonderschmidt earned USA South Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week for the second week in a row while Piedmont softball swept the Rookie Awards with Melissa Eckman earning Rookie Pitcher of the Week and Hannah Hoban taking home Rookie of the Week.
For Vonderschmidt, this marks his third award of the season while for Eckman and Hoban this is their second time on the listing.
Vonderschmidt pitched twice over the past week for the baseball team tossing 4.1 scoreless innings of relief work. The freshman from Suwanee, Georgia leads the team with a 2.54 ERA this season posting a 3-0 record through 16 appearances and 28.1 innings pitched.
Eckman earned Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week after a 1-0 record in two appearances throwing a total of 11.2 innings. Eckman posts a 2.45 ERA this season with a 9-4 record in the circle with seven complete games. She is second on the team with 56 strikeouts and her ERA has her third in the conference.
Hoban has been a power hitter for the Lady Lions all season long as she was 5-for-8 over the week with eight RBI and five walks. Hoban is third in the league in RBI total this season with 36 while being second on the team in batting average hitting .400.
The USA South Athletic Conference announces its weekly honor roll each Monday and at least half of the teams in a sport must have competed within the previous week for honors to be awarded.
To follow the USA South Athletic Conference, fans are encouraged to visit the official home of the league on the world wide web at USASouth.net. Fans can also connect with the league on social media platforms including Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Courtesy of the USA South Athletic Conference Office:
SOFTBALL
Softball Rookie of the Week
HANNAH HOBAN, Piedmont – The freshman catcher/infielder from Phoenix, Arizona went a combined 5-for-8 (.625) with a 1.000 slugging percentage, eight RBI, three runs scored, three doubles and five walks as the Lions posted a 3-1 record last week. In a doubleheader sweep of Agnes Scott, Hoban was a combined 3-for-5 with six RBI, three runs scored and three doubles. In a doubleheader split with USA South foe Greensboro, Hoban was a combined 2-for-3 with two RBI and five walks. Also Nominated: Alexus Murray, Maryville; Kristyn Owen, Averett; Madalyn Ames, Covenant; Logan Barbour, Ferrum; Lindsey Coley, William Peace; Shelby Godwin, N.C. Wesleyan; Katrina Harden, Huntingdon.
Softball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
MELISSA ECKMAN, Piedmont – The freshman from Perry, Georgia earned a 1-0 record in two appearances, both starts, in the circle for the Lions last week. In 11.2 innings pitched, Eckman posted a 3.60 ERA and allowed seven runs, six of which were earned, on 12 hits with three walks and ten strikeouts. In an 11-2, five-inning, win over Agnes Scott, Eckman went the distance and allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts. In a 6-5 victory over USA South foe Greensboro, Eckman collected a no-decision as she tossed the first six innings, allowing five runs, four of which were earned, on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Also Nominated: Casey Joliff, Maryville; Carsyn Stone, Covenant.
BASEBALL
Baseball Rookie Pitcher of the Week
MATT VONDERSCHMIDT, Piedmont – The Suwanee, Georgia freshman earned two no-decisions in two relief appearances last week for the Lions versus USA South competition. Vonderschmidt tossed a total of 4.1 scoreless innings and allowed four hits with two strikeouts. Also Nominated: Hunter Peck, Ferrum.
by Piedmont Lions Sports Information Department
