Maxwell Named Player of the Year; Eatmon & Loftin Earn All-Conference Honors
SoCon Announces 2023-24 Postseason Awards
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The UNC Greensboro (UNCG) softball standout Brooklynn Maxwell has been named The Southern Conference (SoCon) Player of the Year and to the All-SoCon First Team, while Betsy Eatmon and Grace Loftin have been tabbed to the All-SoCon Second Team. In addition, Eatmon was also named to the All-SoCon Freshman Team, the league office announced Tuesday.
The last time UNCG earned a SoCon Player of the Year award was in the 2014 season when Katelyn Bedwell earned the honor. This is the sixth time in program history a Spartan has been named the SoCon Player of the Year. In addition, this is the sixth consecutive season that a Spartan has earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team and 11th straight season that one or more Spartans have been named to the All-SoCon First Team. The most recent time two Spartans were named to the All-SoCon Second Team was in the 2022 season.
Maxwell’s Player of the Year recognition comes after being named the SoCon Player of the Month in both February and March. In addition, on March 11, she was recognized as the SoCon Player of the Week. The Virginia Beach, Va., native was the only player to start in all 55 regular season games in the 2024 season, pacing the Spartans with a .385 batting average, 52 runs, 70 hits, five triples, 15 homers, 38 RBI and crossing 138 total bases. On the field, she contributed to 65 total putouts and recorded 136 assists. Maxwell leads the conference with her 70 hits and a 0.95 runs per game average, she is also second in the SoCon across four statistical categories.
Eatmon was named to the All-SoCon Second Team and All-SoCon Freshman Team after a stellar first season as a Spartan. The Stanley N.C., native is third on the squad, batting .316, while posting 11 runs, 25 hits and eight homers with 25 RBI. Eatmon has contributed on defense this season with 10 assists and notching 93 putouts.
Loftin’s Second Team nod comes after being second on the squad with 38 runs, 12 homers and 33 RBI. Loftin also stands out on the team with 46 hits, six doubles and going 8-for-9 in stolen bases. At center field, the Conover, N.C., native has recorded 73 catches, 62 putouts and eight assists.
Up Next
UNCG will enter the 2024 SoCon Tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Spartans will face either No. 3 seed Samford, No. 6 Furman/No. 7 seed Western Carolina at the UNCG Softball Stadium on Thursday, May 9 at 1 p.m
Player of the Year
Brooklynn Maxwell, Sr., INF, UNCG
Pitcher of the Year
Peja Goold, So., RHP, Chattanooga
Freshman of the Year
Olivia Shaw, DP, Samford
Lily Bell, 2B, Western Carolina
Coach of the Year
Chelsea Butler, Wofford
First Team
P – Peja Goold, So., Chattanooga
P – Margaret Axelson, So., Wofford
C – Logan Champion, Jr., Samford
INF – Cameron Young, Jr., ETSU
INF – Tori Hedgecock, Jr., Mercer
INF – Brooklynn Maxwell, Sr., UNCG
INF – Lily Bell, Fr., Western Carolina
OF – Brylee Mesusan, So., ETSU
OF – Ashlee Lykins, Jr., Furman
OF – McKayla Cothran, Jr., Samford
OF – Camryn Cernuto, Jr., Chattanooga
DP or UT/Non-P – Kendall Forsythe, Sr., Chattanooga
UT/P – Tessa Juett, Jr., Western Carolina
Second Team
P – Grace Taylor, So., Mercer
P – McKenzie Newcomb, Jr., Samford
P – Alyssa Lavdis, Jr., Chattanooga
C – Betsy Eatmon, Fr., UNCG
INF – Emma Dorval, Jr., Mercer
INF – Sarah Squillace, Jr., Samford
INF – Kaili Phillips, Gr., Chattanooga
INF – Kailey Snell, R-Jr., Chattanooga
OF – Alyssa Woods, Sr., Mercer
OF – Grace Loftin, Jr., UNCG
OF – Baileigh Pitts, So., Chattanooga
DP or UT/Non-P – Caitlin Goldwait, Jr., Furman
DP or UT/Non-P – Olivia Shaw, Fr., Samford
UT/P – Sara Muir, Jr., ETSU
All-Freshman
Ansley Chiang, 2B, Furman
Betsy Eatmon, C, UNCG
Katie Campbell, 1B, Samford
Olivia Shaw, DP, Samford
Lily Bell, 2B, Western Carolina
Sydney Dirks, SS, Western Carolina
Maya McPherson, 3B, Western Carolina
Abby Greenwood, P, Wofford
Kaytlin Greenwood, SS, Wofford
Megan Towery, OF, Wofford
Courtesy of Emma White
Strategic Communications Coordinator
UNC Greensboro