SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Chattanooga's Nicole Osterman and Cori Jennings have been named the Southern Conference Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, the league announced Monday. Osterman and Jennings are the first Mocs to garner the weekly honors this season.
Chattanooga was one of four SoCon teams in action last weekend, as inclement weather and frigid temperatures forced a number of cancellations. The Mocs went 5-0 at the South Alabama Invitational, headlined by a 3-1 win over No. 22 South Alabama on Friday in which both Osterman and Jennings were significant contributors.
Osterman recorded at least one hit in all five games for the Mocs, going 9-for-17 (.529) with four home runs, seven runs, 14 RBIs on the weekend. The senior had two multi-hit games and recorded six extra-base hits total over the five games. She receives the weekly honor for the first time in her career.
“I am excited for Nicole [Osterman],” head coach Frank Reed said. “She's a senior who has worked hard. She struggled the first week but didn't let it get to her and this week she showed the numbers we expect from her.”
Osterman accounted for two of UTC's three runs against No. 22 South Alabama on Friday, going 1-for-2 with a homer, two runs and an RBI in the win. She then went 4-for-4 with a double, a home run, five RBIs and a run against Jacksonville on Saturday. The native of Kissimmee, Fla. finished the weekend with a 2-for-3 effort against Ball State with two home runs, two walks, three runs and six RBIs to propel the Mocs to a 10-9 win.
Jennings did her part for Chattanooga, going 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched on the weekend. The freshman hurler allowed seven runs (five earned) on 18 hits with nine walks against 14 strikeouts over four appearances.
“I am always excited when a freshman gets recognized,” Reed said. “She pitched very well against a top ranked team and we expect big things from Cori [Jennings] in the upcoming years.”
Jennings shutdown No. 22 South Alabama on Friday, pitching a complete game and allowing just one run on seven hits and striking out five. She followed with another complete-game performance against Sam Houston State on Saturday as she allowed two runs on five hits with just one walk against six strikeouts. She earned her third victory of the weekend with 3.2 innings pitched against Ball State on Sunday.
Osterman, Jennings and their teammates will look to continue their success at home as they host the annual Frost Class, Feb, 27-March 1. Be sure to check the sidebar on the softball page on GoMocs.com for a complete tournament schedule.
2015 Softball Players of the Week
Feb. 9 – Natalie Shiver, Mercer
Feb. 16 – Caitlin Bice, Samford
Feb. 23 – Nicole Osterman, Chattanooga
2015 Softball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 9 – Mollie Hanson, Samford
Feb. 16 – Jordan Garrett, Western Carolina
Feb. 23 – Cori Jennings, Chattanooga
