Cowgirls’ Talley, Lady Demons’ Hoover Tabbed Softball Players of the Week
FRISCO, Texas – McNeese’s Kendall Talley and Northwestern State’s Sage Hoover are the Southland Conference Softball Players of the Week, the league announced Monday. Southland weekly honors are presented by
GEICO.
Talley led the Cowgirls to a 4-0 week against Southern Miss and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi. The junior appeared in all four games, recording a 0.600 average at the plate, logging six hits on 10 at bats, recording three runs, a pair of RBI and two stolen bases. Talley’s sac hit in game two against the Islanders would seal the deal in a 9-0 decision during Friday night’s conference- opening twinbill. This award marks the first of her career. McNeese (16-14, 3-0 SLC) welcomes UL-Monroe to Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond on Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. before heading to LSU for a midweek matchup on Wednesday, March 30, at 6 p.m.
Hoover dominated in the circle for the Lady Demons, throwing the first of three complete games for NSU pitchers in opening weekend of league play against HBU. The freshman struck out a career-high 14, matching the most by an NSU pitcher this year and the most in a single game in more than 10 years. Hoover posted a 1-0 record, tossing a complete game, allowing only one run on two hits, walking just one batter while striking out 14. This award marks the first weekly award her career and third pitching award of the season for Northwestern State. The Lady Demons (20-12, 3-0 SLC) host Louisiana Tech Tuesday, March 29 at 6 p.m. before returning to league play against Nicholls this weekend.
Softball Hitter of the Week – Kendall Talley – Jr. – OF – San Antonio, Texas
Talley started her week going a perfect two-for-two at the plate, recording a pair of runs and one stolen base against Southern Miss. She continued her momentum at the plate against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi logging four hits, two RBIs, a stolen base and a run in the sweep of the Islanders on opening weekend of league play. The junior recorded a .600 average at the plate and .636 on base percentage after four games for the Cowgirls.
Honorable Mention: Savannah Behabetz, UIW; Alexa Poche’, Nicholls; Keely DuBois, Northwestern State; Haley Morse, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Softball Pitcher of the Week – Sage Hoover – Fr. – Pitcher – Edgewood, Texas
Hoover tossed the first of three complete games for the Lady Demons against HBU in the conference opener this past weekend. The freshman threw a career-high 14 strikeouts, matching the most by an NSU pitcher this year and most in a single game in more than 10 years. The Edgewood, Texas, native struck out seven of the first nine batters she faced. She logged three 1-2-3 innings and struck out the league’s top hitter in two of her three at bats. Hoover posted a 1-0 record, recorded a 1.00 ERA and held her opponents to a 0.83 batting average.
Honorable Mention: Ashley Trapp, UIW; Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese
Southland weekly award winners are nominated and voted upon by each school’s sports information director and coaches. Voting for one’s own athlete is not permitted. To earn honorable mention, a student-athlete must appear on at least 25 percent of ballots.
| Date |
HITTER |
PITCHER |
| Feb. 15 |
Josie Willingham, McNeese |
Ashley Vallejo, McNeese |
| Feb. 22 |
Audrey Greely, Southeastern |
Maggie Darr, Northwestern State |
| Feb. 22 |
Laney Roos, Northwestern State |
Ashley Vallejo, McNeese |
| Mar. 8 |
Alexa Poche’, Nicholls |
Heather Zumo, Southeastern |
| Mar. 14 |
Shelby Echols, HBU |
Bronte Rhoden, Northwestern State |
| Mar. 21 |
Cam Goodman, Southeastern |
Shaelyn Sanders, McNeese |
| Mar. 28 |
Kendall Talley, McNeese |
Sage Hoover, Northwestern State |
#SouthlandStrong