Wingate’s Heaven Maness was selected as the South Atlantic Conference Varsity Gems Softball Player of the Week, while Catawba’s Alexandra Baquie was named the SAC Varsity Gems Softball Pitcher of the Week for games played during Week 10 of the 2023 season, the conference office announced Tuesday. 

Maness, a junior from Asheboro, North Carolina, had a huge week, going 8-for-11 (.727), with two homers, four doubles, nine RBIs and seven runs scored, adding a stolen base. 

She posted a .769 on-base percentage and a 1.636 slugging percentage. 

Maness started her week by driving in nine runs in the doubleheader sweep over UNCP, blasting a homer in each game, while piling up five hits and adding a pair of doubles on the day. She scored three times. 

She was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs scored in the opener against Limestone. She also scored a run in the finale against the Saints. 

Baquie, a freshman from Sanford, Florida, earned three wins on the week, improving her total to a SAC-best 16 wins on the season. 

She earned both winning decisions in the sweep at Limestone on Tuesday,. First, she struck out five in a complete game, allowing just one earned run. She then came on in relief for Catawba's come-from-behind win in eight innings. 

The freshman right-hander also pitched a complete-game one-hit shutout Thursday against Newberry. Catawba won 8-0. 

Five straight wins for @CatawbaSoftball after another SAC sweep at Limestone!

Two wins for Baquie; Gallagher hit two homers in game one, Brendle hit another in game two!

Back at home vs Newberry on Thursday.

🗞️➡️https://t.co/CAST4tvnj0 pic.twitter.com/wiDAabtCoT

— Catawba College Athletics (@CatawbaIndians) April 5, 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
March 21 – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
March 28 – Savanna Brooks, Wingate
April 4 – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne
April 11 – Alexandra Baquie, Catawba

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
March 21 – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
March 28 – Morgan Beeler, Lenoir-Rhyne
April 4 – Olivia Chestnut, Newberry
April 11 – Heaven Maness, Wingate

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