TSWA honors baseball, softball players of the week

March 8, 2018 Forrest Freeman

BASEBALL: Trevecca’s Mang, Bryan’s Chamblee garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Sam Mang and Bryan College’s Stephen Chamblee were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games February 26-March 4.

Mang batted .444 (8-for-18) with four home runs, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored in five contests for the Trojans. The Woodstock, Ga., native collected two hits with a solo homer at Alabama-Huntsville and was 3-for-4 with a double, another solo home run and two runs scored in the first of four games versus Truman State.

He belted a grand slam and drove in five total runs in the second game of the series against TSU and added a three-run homer along with a single and two runs scored in the final contest versus the Bulldogs. Mang is batting .342 with three doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and nine runs scored in 11 games this season.

Chamblee scattered eight hits in a complete-game shutout in the Appalachian Athletic Conference opener for the Lions in a 7-0 victory over Truett-McConnell. The righthander walked two and struck out 15, the second most in program history, over nine innings. He is 4-0 with a 3.38 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 32.0 innings this season.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S 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)

SOFTBALL: Memphis’ Trosclair-Klatt, Tennessee’s Arnold named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis senior Kyler Trosclair-Klatt and Tennessee’s Caylan Arnold were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games February 26-March 4.

Trosclair-Klatt batted .667 (10-for-15) with four runs scored, eight RBIs and three triples in four games for the Tigers. The Houma, La., native singled in the first contest of the Blues City Classic against IP-Fort Wayne but collected three hits in the final three games of the tournament.

She was 3-for-4 with four RBIs versus Bradley, including an RBI single and a bases-clearing triple. Trosclair-Klatt posted three hits with a double and a triple as well as two runs scored versus Louisiana-Monroe and finished the tournament with a 3-for-4 effort against UMKC with a pair of two-run singles and another triple.

Trosclair-Klatt is batting .450 with two doubles, seven triples (two shy of tying the program single-season record), 17 RBIs and 12 runs scored in 17 games this season.

Arnold posted her second straight Pitcher of the Week accolade, posting a 4-0 mark with a 0.68 ERA over 21.2 innings of work, striking out 35 while allowing just 13 hits. The sophomore worked four shutout innings in a victory against Charleston Southern, giving up just one hit with seven strikeouts.

The righthander allowed two hits with five strikeouts in four shutout frames versus Toledo and tossed 2.2 scoreless innings of relief against South Alabama. Arnold struck out 13, allowing two earned runs on five hits in a complete game in the second meeting versus Charleston Southern and worked four shutout innings in the second contest against South Alabama, giving up three hits with eight strikeouts.

Arnold has a 10-0 record with a 1.21 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 75.1 innings pitched this season for the Vols.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S 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)

Lipscomb's Mathews, Carson-Newman's Wester garner TSWA basketball honors

March 8, 2018 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Lipscomb’s Mathews named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Lipscomb’s Garrison Mathews earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for games February 26-March 4, posting 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists in three victories for the Bisons, garnering Tournament MVP accolades in the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships.

The Franklin, Tenn., native scored 29 points with five rebounds and five assists in the quarterfinals against Stetson, connecting on 10-of-16 shots with five 3-pointers. He followed that with 23 points, five boards and four assists versus Jacksonville University.

Mathews netted 33 points in the championship game at Florida Gulf Coast, 26 of those in the first half. He made 10-of-18 shots overall with a season-high seven 3-pointers, adding nine rebounds and three assists. It marked the fourth 30-point game of the season for the junior. He averages 22.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University
November 21 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
November 28 – Grant Williams, Tennessee
December 5 – Nick King, Middle Tennessee
December 12 – Fatodd Lewis, UT Martin
December 19 – Amanze Egekeze, Belmont
December 27 – Nick King, Middle Tennessee
January 3 – Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay
January 9 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
January 16 – Jeremiah Martin, Memphis
January 23 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
January 30 – Adrian Thomas, University of the South
February 6 – Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
February 13 – Jordan Floyd, King University
February 20 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
February 27 – Admiral Schofield, Tennessee

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Wester garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Mika Wester garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades for games February 26-March 4, averaging 17.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists, earning Tournament MVP honors in the South Atlantic Conference Championships.

The Newport, Tenn., native made 8-of-16 shots overall with two 3-pointers, netting 20 points with four boards and three assists versus Lenoir-Rhyne. The junior posted 14 points, five rebounds and three assists against Lincoln Memorial and recorded 27 points on 10-of-14 shooting along with seven boards in the championship game versus Wingate, helping the Eagles to the tournament title.

Wester averages 17.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 31 contests this season.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 21 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
November 28 – Kylee Smith, Belmont
December 5 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
December 12 – Kendall Spray, UT Martin
December 19 – Ant’Treasia Patton, Cumberland University
December 27 – Kylee Smith, Belmont
January 3 – Sally McCabe, Belmont
January 9 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
January 16 – Jada Perkins, Union University
January 23 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
January 30 – Kori West, King University
February 6 – Kendall Spray, UT Martin
February 13 – Callie Hackett, Trevecca University
February 20 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
February 27 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman

TSWA announces Players of the Week

March 6, 2018 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Tennessee’s Schofield named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee forward Admiral Schofield earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors for games February 19-25, netting 20.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in a pair of wins for the Volunteers.

The Zion, Ill., native registered 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists in a victory against Florida, hitting 7-of-17 shots with one 3-pointer. The junior then posted a career-best 25 points at Ole Miss, connecting on 9-of-14 shots with a pair of triples. He was 5-for-7 at the foul line in the win, adding seven boards and three assists.

It marked the fifth 20-point performance of his career and the fourth this season. He also has netted two or more 3-pointers in a game 18 times this year.

2017-18 TSWA MEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Devin Whitfield, Trevecca University
November 21 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
November 28 – Grant Williams, Tennessee
December 5 – Nick King, Middle Tennessee
December 12 – Fatodd Lewis, UT Martin
December 19 – Amanze Egekeze, Belmont
December 27 – Nick King, Middle Tennessee
January 3 – Averyl Ugba, Austin Peay
January 9 – Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
January 16 – Jeremiah Martin, Memphis
January 23 – Dylan Windler, Belmont
January 30 – Adrian Thomas, University of the South
February 6 – Charles Clark, Carson-Newman
February 13 – Jordan Floyd, King University
February 20 – Dylan Windler, Belmont

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Carson-Newman’s Price garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Carson-Newman’s Haris Price garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades for games February 19-25, averaging 27.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists in a pair of contests for the Eagles.

The Gatlinburg, Tenn., native posted 27 points on 10-of-18 shooting with three 3-pointers in a two-point loss at Lincoln Memorial. She made 4-of-5 at the foul line and added three rebounds in 33 minutes of action.

The junior guard scored 28 points with four 3-pointers in a win against Wingate University, connecting on a perfect 12-for-12 at the foul line. Haris recorded two rebounds and five assists in the victory as well.

BASEBALL: Bryan’s Garcia, King’s Boyd garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Bryan College’s Fernando Garcia and King University’s Grant Boyd were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 19-25.

Garcia batted .700 (7-for-10) with one double, two home runs, four RBIs and six runs scored in a three-game series against LSU-Shreveport. The Kissimmee, Fla., native was 4-for-5 with two homers, three RBIs and three runs scored in the first game against the Pilots.

The senior outfielder posted two hits, a run and one RBI in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and added a single, two walks and two runs scored in the series finale versus LSUS. The Lions won 2-of-3 in the series, dropping a 9-8 decision in the first game before posting 8-4 and 10-7 victories to improve to 14-1 on the season.

Boyd tossed a five-hit shutout in the Conference Carolinas opener against Barton College. The right-hander struck out a career-best 11, walked two and faced just five batters over the minimum in a 9-0 victory.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)

SOFTBALL: Middle Tennessee’s De La Cruz, Tennessee’s Arnold named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee’s Jocelyn De La Cruz and Tennessee’s Caylan Arnold were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 19-25.

De La Cruz batted .389 (7-for-18) with three doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs and three runs scored in five games for the Blue Raiders. The Lake Elsinore, Calif., native singled, drove in two runs and scored another versus McNeese State and collected two hits with a double and three RBIs against Eastern Michigan.

She hit a three-run homer versus Kent State and was 3-for-4 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored against Marist.

Arnold posted three victories and a save in six appearances for the Volunteers, allowing just one unearned run on 10 hits with 32 strikeouts in 21.0 innings of work. The sophomore tossed five shutout frames for a win against BYU, giving up three hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The right-hander pitched four shutout innings versus UC Davis, striking out six, and got another win with three innings against Oregon State, allowing two hits with six strikeouts. She pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two, to earn a save versus second-ranked Oregon.

Arnold then struck out 13 in a complete-game win over Northwestern, giving up an unearned run on three hits with no walks.

2018 TSWA WOMEN’S SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)

TSWA award winners announced - Feb. 22

February 22, 2018 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Belmont’s Windler named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Belmont University’s Dylan Windler earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Thursday, netting 24.5 points and 13.5 rebounds in a pair of games for the Bruins, including just the third 30-point, 20-rebound game of the year in all of Division I.

The Indianapolis, Ind., native posted 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists versus Eastern Kentucky, hitting 5-of-8 shots overall with a pair of 3-pointers. The junior registered 36 points, 20 boards and three assists against Morehead State, connecting on 14-of-17 shots, including 6-for-9 from behind the arc.

He joined Duke’s Marvin Bagley and Baylor’s Jo Lual-Acuil as the only players in the nation this season with 30-20 outings. He recorded 26 points and 14 rebounds in the first half alone and established Curb Events Center single-game records for rebounds and field goals made. Windler is averaging 17.4 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Union’s Shumpert garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Union University’s Chelsey Shumpert garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Thursday, averaging 32.0 points in two games, including a 42-point outburst for the Bulldogs.

The Paducah, Ky., native posted 22 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals in a victory over West Alabama, connecting on 6-of-16 shots with three 3-pointers. She also made 7-for-9 at the foul line for Union.

Shumpert hit 14-of-25 shots overall and was 8-for-17 from behind the arc at West Florida, adding four rebounds for the Bulldogs. She made 6-of-8 at the foul line as well, tying her for second in most points in a regulation game in program history.

She is averaging 25.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game this season.

BASEBALL: Cumberland’s Blackwell, Carson-Newman’s Cate garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Cumberland University’s Kyle Blackwell and Carson-Newman’s Dillon Cate were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 12-18.

Blackwell was 3-for-7 (.429) with a double, two home runs and four RBIs in two games for the Phoenix. The Waterdown, Ontario, native hit a two-run homer in the second inning and a solo shot in the fifth, giving Cumberland a 3-1 advantage in the second game of a doubleheader against the University of St. Francis [IL]. The Saints tied the game with two runs in the sixth, but Blackwell’s double in the corner plated Andy Garretson with the game-winning run and a walk-off 4-3 victory for CU.

After a slow start Blackwell leads the Phoenix with a .409 average (9-for-22) with three doubles, two home runs, 10 RBIs and six runs scored in nine contests.

Cate tossed 7.1 no-hit innings versus 14th-ranked Northwood University, striking out 15 with six walks and one hit batter. The Sevierville, Tenn., native walked two batters in the first inning but then retired 20 of the next 23 hitters before running into trouble in the eighth. Carson-Newman led just 2-0 when the righthander exited the contest.

Cate is 2-0 with a 3.66 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 17.2 innings of work over three starts this season for the Eagles.

SOFTBALL: Trevecca’s Alexander, Carson-Newman’s Rinus named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Bailey Alexander and Carson-Newman’s Lacie Rinus were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for February 12-18.

Alexander batted .538 (7-for-13) in four games for the Trojans against Black Hills State with two home runs, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored. The Glasgow, Ky., native hit a grand slam and a three-run homer, all in the same inning, in the first game of the series against the Yellow Jackets, part of an 11-run inning for TNU. The junior infielder walked and scored in the second game of the doubleheader.

She was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and four runs scored three days later versus BHSU, including an RBI single and a two-run base hit. Alexander had one RBI in the final contest against Black Hills State. She is batting .481 with 13 RBIs and 11 runs scored through eight games this season.

Rinus posted a 3-1 mark in the circle with a 1.56 ERA over four outings and 27.0 innings, walking eight with 29 strikeouts. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native tossed a two-hit shutout versus North Greeneville with two walks and nine strikeouts.

The sophomore lefthander allowed just three hits in a complete-game shutout against King University, walking three and striking out eight. She suffered the loss in the second game versus the Tornado, giving up five earned runs on six hits in 5.0 innings.

Rinus rebounded against Augusta College, allowing one run on eight hits with nine strikeouts in a 2-1 victory. She improved to 5-2 with a 1.94 ERA in nine appearances this season covering 47.0 innings, striking out 52 with 17 walks. Opponents are batting just 1.83 against her.

King's Floyd, Trevecca's Hackett garner TSWA weekly honors

February 13, 2018 Forrest Freeman

MEN’S BASKETBALL: King’s Floyd named TSWA award winner
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – King University’s Jordan Floyd earned Tennessee Sports Writers Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week honors on Tuesday, averaging 26.0 points and 5.0 assists in a pair of wins for the Tornado.

The Stone Mountain, Ga., native netted 25 points with four rebounds and six assists off the bench at North Greenville, hitting 9-of-14 shots overall, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range. The junior guard recorded 27 points, four assists and two steals inn just 23 minutes off the bench against Southern Wesleyan, connecting on 8-of-15 shots with three more 3-pointers.

He was 8-for-8 at the foul line versus SWU and 10-of-10 at the charity stripe for the week. Floyd has scored at least 20 points in each of the last six games for the Tornado and is averaging a team-high 21.1 points with 2.2 assists in only 25.2 minutes per game this season.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Trevecca’s Hackett garners TSWA weekly honor
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s Callie Hackett garnered Tennessee Sports Writers Association Women’s Basketball Player of the Week accolades on Tuesday, netting 25.5 points and 4.0 3-pointers per game in two contests for the Trojans.

The Carthage, Tenn., native scored a career-high 33 points at Walsh University, the second-most points scored in a single game in school history. The junior guard made 10-of-15 shots overall with five 3-pointers and was 8-for-8 at the foul line.

Hackett posted 18 points with three assists and two steals at Malone University, hitting three more triples. She was 7-of-10 at the foul line as well. She is averaging 17.0 points per game while shooting 42 percent from behind the arc.

2017-18 TSWA WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
November 14 – Mika Wester, Carson-Newman
November 21 – Haris Price, Carson-Newman
November 28 – Kylee Smith, Belmont
December 5 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
December 12 – Kendall Spray, UT Martin
December 19 – Ant’Treasia Patton, Cumberland University
December 27 – Kylee Smith, Belmont
January 3 – Sally McCabe, Belmont
January 9 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
January 16 – Jada Perkins, Union University
January 23 – Chelsey Shumpert, Union University
January 30 – Kori West, King University
February 6 – Kendall Spray, UT Martin