NASHVILLE – UT Martin’s Carly Ward and Tennessee Tech’s Addison Abell were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, as announced Tuesday by the organization.
Ward batted .615 (8-for-13) with four runs scored and five RBIs in four games for the Skyhawks. She posted two hits with two RBIs and a run scored in the first game against Tennessee State and added two more hits with two walks and two runs scored in the second contest. She was 4-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs and a run scored in the series finale. Ward added four stolen bases over the four outings as well.
Abell tallied a 2-0 record in two starts and three appearances, giving up five hits and one earned run with four strikeouts in 13.2 innings. She allowed one earned run in three innings of relief in the midweek versus Austin Peay.
Abell tossed a complete-game shutout in game one of the series against Lindenwood University, taking a no-hit bid into the seventh inning before giving up a single. She worked 3.2 hitless innings in the series finale, striking out one.
BASEBALL: Austin Peay’s Cole Johnson and Carson-Newman’s Kolton Casson were named Tennessee Sports Writers Association Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively
Johnson hit .528 (9-for-17) with five extra-base hits, including three home runs and a pair of doubles while also driving in nine runs. He posted two doubles and two RBIs in a midweek contest at Ole Miss.
Johnson was 4-for-5 with a career-high five RBIs against Lipscomb in the series opener, belting a solo homer and a grand slam in back-to-back at-bats in the second and third innings. He added two hits and three runs scored in the second game and hit a two-run homer in the series finale.
Casson tossed seven scoreless innings, scattering eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts in a 7-0 victory over Tusculum University. He tallied his second career complete game shutout, both this season and in conference play, and has posted 14 consecutive scoreless innings over his past three starts.
2026 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 10 | Shay Hollingsworth, Trevecca Nazarene (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)
Feb. 17 | Avary Makarewicz, UT Martin (Player); Taylor Long, Chattanooga (Pitcher)
Feb. 24 | Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (Player); Kayleigh Smith, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 3 | Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (Player); Maya Johnson, Belmont (Pitcher)
March 10 | Sydney Tackett, Sewanee (Player); Chelsey Stonesifer, Tusculum University (Pitcher)
March 17 | Ashley Capelouto, Tennessee Tech (Player); Sami Scholtz, UT Martin (Pitcher)
March 24 | Carly Ward, UT Martin (Player); Addison Abell, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
2026 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 17 | Cohl Proctor, Cumberland University (Player); Tegan Kuhns, Tennessee (Pitcher)
Feb. 24 | Will Curcio, Bryan College (Player); Logan Baskin, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
March 3 | Jacob Sitton, UT Martin (Pitcher)
March 10 | Zach Fortman, Sewanee (Player); Logan Harrell, Trevecca Nazarene (Pitcher)
March 17 | Denajh Williams, Bryan College (Player); Christian Henderson, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
March 24 | Cole Johnson, Austin Peay (Player); Kolton Casson, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)