Carson-Newman’s Macauley Bailey was selected as the South Atlantic Conference Varsity Gems Softball Player of the Week, while Lenoir-Rhyne’s Morgan Beeler was named the SAC Varsity Gems Softball Pitcher of the Week for games played during Week 6 of the 2023 season, the conference office announced Tuesday.

Bailey, a freshman catcher from Cross Plains, Tennessee, is on a career-best eight-game hitting streak. She drove in the game-winning run to complete a six-run come-from-behind effort, the largest comeback in school history, and defeat Catawba 10-9 in Game 2. 

Bailey has a nation-leading five sacrifice flies and 38 RBIs on the season. 

Beeler, a senior pitcher from Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, started her week with a key regional win over Francis Marion on Wednesday and got the save at No. 24 Anderson on Saturday, throwing a scoreless seventh inning.

In the nightcap, Beeler dominated in the circle. She threw a two-hit complete game shutout to complete the sweep in a 6-0 victory. 

Beeler averaged one strikeout per inning this week and moves to 10-2 with a 1.74 ERA. 

Big week for Morgan Beeler earns her @SAC_Athletics Pitcher of the Week honors!#GOBEARS | @LRSoftball pic.twitter.com/SOgwqnohlT

— #GOBEARS (@LRbears) March 14, 2023

2023 SAC Varsity Gems Softball Players Of The Week

Player of the Week

Feb. 7 – Kayson Boatner, Anderson
Feb. 14 – McKenzie Henry, Lincoln Memorial
Feb. 21 – Savanna Balderston, Catawba
Feb. 28 – Chloe Freischmidt, Tusculum
March 7 – Hannah Reeves, Wingate
March 14 – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman

Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 7 – Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
Feb. 14 – Syerra Rogers, Carson-Newman
Feb. 21 – Jenae Fedewa, Coker
Feb. 28 – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate
March 7 – Alyssa Poston, Mars Hill
March 14 – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne

Varsity Gems is an official corporate partner of the South Atlantic Conference and title sponsor of the SAC Player of the Week awards program.