Lenoir-Rhyne’s Pushard, O’Connor Named Softball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- Lenoir-Rhyne's Karie Pushard was chosen as the league's Softball Player of the Week for the second consecutive week and teammate Meredith O'Connor was dubbed the South Atlantic Conference's Pitcher of the Week it was announced by the conference office on Monday.

A junior catcher, Pushard hit .389 (7-for-18) last week for No. 17 Lenoir-Rhyne, who were 5-1 on the week. The Harrisburg, N.C. native also belted two home runs and collected eight RBIs on the week for the SAC regular season champions. Pushard commenced the week by tallying three hits and two RBI, which included a solo home run, in L-R's 5-2 game two win over Catawba on Tuesday, April 10. She then followed that up by nailing a three-run round-tripper in the first inning of Lenoir-Rhyne's game one victory over USC Upstate on Thursday, April 12. Overall, Pushard leads the Bears with a batting average of .368.

Karie Pushard

Meredith O'Connor

O'Connor went 3-0 last week from the pitcher's circle with a 1.11 ERA. O'Connor struck out 29 batters in the three games.

The Appalachian State transfer began the week by allowing just one hit in five innings in the circle in Catawba's 5-2 game two victory over Catawba last Tuesday. The Charlotte, N.C. native then fanned eight batters and allowed just one run in a 3-1 game two victory over USC Upstate last Thursday. O'Connor then concluded the week by pitching a three-hit, 11 strikeout shutout against Carson-Newman in a 3-0 game two win on Sunday, April 15 that led the Bears to their second straight regular season league triumph. O'Connor is now 22-2 on the season with a league and school record 298 strikeouts on the season.

The South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week is voted on by the league's Sports Information Directors.