SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Appalachian State’s Dani Heichen and Furman’s Lauren Collier have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday. The selections are made by the Southern Conference office.

Heichen posted four three-hit performances in five games for the Mountaineers last week to earn Player of the Week honors. The junior outfielder picked up a hit and scored a run in the first game of a doubleheader against ETSU before going 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored. She added another 3-for-4 performance in a 4-0 victory, adding two runs scored and a stolen base in the first game of the Mountaineers’ three-game series against Elon. In game two, Heichen added three more hits before wrapping up the series with another three-hit performance and two more runs scored in an 11-1 win. Heichen hit .650 on 13 hits in 20 at-bats and eight runs scored to help Appalachian go 4-1 on the week. Her 13 hits helped raise her average from .268 to .333, and moved her average in conference play to .425.

Collier picked up two wins and a save in three appearances for Furman last week to earn Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season. She struck out four of the five batters she faced to pick up the save in a 4-1 win over Charlotte on Wednesday. Collier threw a 10-inning complete game to knock off conference-leading Georgia Southern 5-4. In the win, Collier struck out eight while surrendering three earned runs. She closed the series against Georgia Southern with a complete-game shutout in 2-0 win, striking out three and allowing just four hits. Collier totaled 15 strike outs in 18.1 innings and finished with a 1.15 ERA for the week.

­Also receiving nominations for Player of the Week: Elon’s Aly Quintana, Georgia Southern’s Morgan Robinson, UNCG’s Danielle Vega and Samford’s Callie Brister.

Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Appalachian State’s Alissa Schoelkopf, Elon’s Caitlin O’Shea, Georgia Southern’s Brooke Red, UNCG’s Raeanne Hanks, Samford’s Mollie Hanson and Western Carolina’s Taylor Sigmon.

 

2014 Softball Player of the Week
Feb. 10             Emily Cameron, Elon
Feb. 17             Sam Taylor, Chattanooga
Feb. 24             Abby Adams, Samford
March 3            Carleigh Nestor, Elon
March 11           Anyssa Robles, Chattanooga
March 17           Nicole Thomas, UNCG
March 24           Kara Salvo, Western Carolina
March 31           Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
April 7               Ambree Mueller, Furman
April 14             Dani Heichen, Appalachian State
2014 Softball Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 10             Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 17             Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
Feb. 24             Shelby Parker, Furman
March 3            Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
March 11           Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
March 17           Lauren Collier, Furman
March 24           Taylor Deason, Chattanooga
March 31           Mollie Hanson, Samford
April 7               Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
April 14             Lauren Collier, Furman