Elon Softball Duo Earns All-SoCon Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Senior Carleigh Nester and freshman Alaina Hall of the Elon University softball team were selected to the 2014 Southern Conference Softball All-Conference teams today, May 6, as announced by the league office. Nester received her second straight first team selection while Hall was placed on the second and All-Freshman teams.

Nester concluded her final regular-season campaign with the maroon and gold by leading the team in homers (15), RBI (42), runs scored (35), doubles (11) and slugging percentage (.686). She also broke several career school records along the way in home runs (36), doubles (51), slugging percentage (.613) and RBI (138). The Kernersville, North Carolina, native also set a new program single-season mark with her 15 home runs this season.

Nester was named the SoCon Player of the Week on March 3, and is hitting .339 during conference play with eight home runs and 20 RBI. She also has a current reached base streak of 13 games and to go with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage while patrolling mostly center field this season.

Hall leads the team in average (.344), hits (54), stolen bases (17) and triples (three) during a great rookie season. The Suwanee, Georgia, native also paces the squad with 13 multi-hit games, had a team-high 11-game hit streak and also reached base safely in 13 consecutive games. She has also shown her power during the course of the year with three home runs including one at NC State on March 26.

UNCG’s Katelyn Bedwell was tabbed as the league’s Player of the Year while Sarah Purvis of Georgia Southern earned her third straight SoCon Pitcher of the Year selection. GSU’s head coach Annie Smith was recognized as the conference Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to the regular-season title.
2014 Southern Conference Softball All-Conference Teams

1st Team All-Conference
P: Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern
P: Mollie Hanson, Samford
C: Lindsay Thomas, UNCG
1B: Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG
2B: Cynthia Gomez, Appalachian State
3B: Callie Brister, Samford
SS: Kourtny Thomas, Georgia Southern
OF: Dani Heichen, Appalachian State
OF: Megan Dowdy, Samford
OF: Carleigh Nester, Elon
DP: Taylor Rogers, Georgia Southern
UT: Nicole Thomas, UNCG

2nd Team All-Conference
P: Lauren Collier, Furman
P: Katie Henderson, Chattanooga
C: Sarah Warnock, Appalachian State
1B: Lindsay Loudermilk, Appalachian State
1B: Morgan Robinson, Georgia Southern
2B: Dominique Madruga, UNCG
3B: Sarah Beth Roberts, Chattanooga
3B: Kara Salvo, Western Carolina
SS: Abby Adams, Samford
OF: Alaina Hall, Elon
OF: Nikki Legg, Furman
OF: Courtney Price, Western Carolina
DP: Elise Smith, Furman
UT: Caroline Wilder, Samford

All-Freshman Team
Cara Parker, Appalachian State
Alaina Hall, Elon
Andrea Abatiello, Furman
Elise Smith, Furman
Emily Snider, Georgia Southern
Morgan Robinson, Georgia Southern
Taylor Rogers, Georgia Southern
Grey Adams, Samford
Courtney Price, Western Carolina
Kara Salvo, Western Carolina

Player of the Year
Katelyn Bedwell, UNCG

Pitcher of the Year
Sarah Purvis, Georgia Southern

Freshman of the Year
Taylor Rogers, Georgia Southern

Coach of the Year
Annie Smith, Georgia Southern