BASEBALL: Trevecca’s Mang, Tennessee’s Neely garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Sam Mang and Tennessee’s Will Neely were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 5-11.
Mang collected just five hits in 17 at-bats over four games but posted three home runs with 11 RBIs for the Trojans. The Woodstock, Ga., native belted a two-run homer and added an RBI single in the midweek victory at North Alabama.
The junior delivered a three-run home run and a two-run single in a 7-5 victory against Drury University in the second contest of a weekend series and posted a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly in another 7-5 win versus Drury to complete the series. He has seven home runs and 21 RBIs over the last two weeks and is batting .327 in 15 games this season.
Neely tossed a complete-game in a 2-1 victory at Cincinnati, allowing one run on just five hits. The Knoxville, Tenn., native walked one and struck out five. The junior righthander faced just one batter over the minimum in the final seven innings after allowing three hits and a run in the third. Tennessee plated the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth and Neely worked around a two-out single in the bottom of the inning to get the victory.
He improved to 2-0 with a 3.86 ERA in four starts covering 23.1 innings, striking out 16 with opponents batting .233.
2018 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)
SOFTBALL: Belmont’s Rouse, Memphis’ Smith named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont’s Lexi Rouse and University of Memphis hurler Molly Smith were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games March 5-11.
Rouse toppled a 16-year-old NCAA record with five home runs in five consecutive at-bats, including three in one game, and belted six homers in four contests for the week. The Macon, Ga., native hit a solo home run at Chattanooga.
The senior hit a two-run shot against Mercer and drilled three solo homers in as many at-bats versus Kennesaw State. She added another solo home run in her first at-bat in the second meeting with Mercer while also tossing a two-hit complete-game shutout against the Bears. She is batting .365 with five doubles, seven home runs, 16 RBIs and 11 runs scored in 18 games this season.
Smith posted three victories and a save with a no-hitter in 21.0 innings of work, striking out 29 while allowing just two runs and nine hits in four outings. The Yamhill, Ore., native struck out 13 against Tennessee State, giving up one run on three hits.
The senior righthander tossed a five-inning no-hitter versus Butler, recording nine strikeouts without a walk. Butler had just one baserunner in the contest and she reached on an error.
Smith allowed one run on three hits with five strikeouts in a victory against Bowling Green and worked three shutout frames for a save versus Indiana State, giving up three hits with two strikeouts.
She improved to 9-2 on the season with a 0.93 ERA in 15 appearances over 83.0 innings, striking out 88 with opponents batting .190.
2018 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Jocelyn De La Cruz, Middle Tennessee (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Kyler Trosclair-Klatt, Memphis (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)