NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Macauley Bailey and Trevecca Nazarene’s Ashlan Sensing garnered softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 6-12.
Bailey batted .500 with one double, one triple and 10 RBIs in six games for the Eagles. The Cross Plains, Tenn., native singled and drove in a run with sacrifice flies in both ends of a doubleheader against Limestone University. The freshman catcher collected two hits and four RBIs in the first of two games versus North Greenville, including an RBI single in the first and a bases-clearing triple in the fourth.
She followed that with three more RBIs in the second game at NGU with an RBI groundout and a two-run single. Bailey collected two hits in both games of a twinbill against Catawba College, including a sacrifice fly to end the second contest that completed a six-run come-from-behind victory, the largest comeback in school history.
Bailey is hitting .410 with seven doubles, nine homers, 37 RBIs and 17 runs scored in 26 games this season.
Sensing posted a 3-1 record with a 0.54 ERA and three shutouts in four outings, including a perfect game. Opponents batted just .159 against her over 26.0 innings of work.
The Dickson, Tenn., native tossed a four-hit shutout in the team’s first game of the week versus Lewis University, striking out four without a walk in a 2-0 victory. She retired the side in order in three of the last four innings and induced an inning-ending doubleplay in the fifth after a one-out single.
The sophomore righthander suffered the loss in a 2-1 setback against Ferris State, giving up two runs on four hits with four strikeouts in six innings. She rebounded with a six-inning perfect game versus College of Staten Island, striking out nine and ended the week with a complete-game victory against Southwest Minnesota State, tossing another shutout with no walks and three strikeouts.
Sensing improved to 5-4 with a 1.49 ERA in 61.0 innings over 12 appearances, allowing 42 hits with six walks and 60 strikeouts.
2022-23 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 21 – Macey Neal, Union University (Player)
February 28 – Chloe Kleischmidt, Tusculum University (Player); Rylee Gattis, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
March 7 – Acelynn Sellers, Chattanooga (Player); Alyssa Lavdis, Chattanooga (Pitcher)