Elon’s Nester Tabbed SoCon Softball Player of the Month

ELON, N.C. – Elon softball outfielder Carleigh Nester was named the Southern Conference Softball’s Player of the Month for April, the league office announced on Friday, May 3. This is the first SoCon monthly accolade for Nester and the second for the Phoenix this season.

The junior from Kernersville, N.C., hit .426 in her 15 games during the month of April to go with seven home runs, 18 RBI, a slugging percentage of .979 and five doubles. Nester was also 6-for-6 in stolen base attempts and didn’t commit an error in 29 chances in the outfield. She had six multi-hit games, including a 4-for-4 effort against league-leading Appalachian State, tying an NCAA Division I record with three doubles. She also added a home run on her other at bat against the Mountaineers on April 7.

Nester had a pair of four-RBI games, going 2-for-3 with a double and four driven in against Western Carolina on April 13, and going 2-for-2 with a walk and a pair of homers to drive in four against North Carolina Central on April 23. She also homered against Samford and Furman, driving in a pair of runs in each contest. Nester, who opened the month with a seven-game hitting streak, was the SoCon Player of the Week on Monday, April 29.

Nester joins fellow outfielder Tomeka Watson as recipients to the league’s monthly honor. Watson was selected as the SoCon’s February Player of the Month earlier this season.

The Phoenix returns to the field tomorrow, May 4, for a doubleheader against Chattanooga beginning at 1 p.m.