NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Macauley Bailey and Tennessee State’s Caitlyn Manus garnered softball Player and Pitcher of the Week accolades, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association for their efforts in contests from March 13-19.
Bailey batted .643 (9-for-14) with two extra-base hits, 11 RBIs and five runs scored in four games for the Eagles. The Cross Plains, Tenn., native posted two hits and three RBIs along with a run scored in the first of two games against UVA-Wise and was 4-for-4 with four RBIs in the second contest versus the Cavaliers, including a two-run double.
The freshman singled home a run and scored once in the first game of a doubleheader against Newberry College and posted two hits with a solo homer, three RBIs and two runs scored in the nightcap. Bailey is batting .448 with eight doubles, 10 home runs and 22 runs scored in 30 contests. She leads all NCAA divisions with 48 RBIs.
Manus posted a 1-1 record with a 0.00 ERA over two outings for the Tigers, helping TSU break a 14-game losing streak to conference rival Southeast Missouri.
The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native tossed a complete-game shutout against SEMO in the first of a three-game series, allowing just four hits with three walks and one strikeout. The sophomore righthander retired the side in order just twice in the game, working around at least one baserunner in 5-of-7 innings, including leaving the bases loaded in the fifth in a 3-0 contest.
Manus suffered the loss in a midweek contest against UAB, giving up one unearned run and three hits with one strikeout in 4.0 innings of relief in a 2-1 defeat. She has posted a 10-8 record in 20 appearances covering 94.2 innings, posting 48 strikeouts with two shutouts and eight complete games.
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)
March 14 – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (Player); Ashlan Sensing, Trevecca Nazarene (Pitcher)