NEW ORLEANS, La. – University of South Alabama softball outfielder Haleigh Lowe was named the Community Coffee Co-Player off the Week Tuesday afternoon as announced by the Sun Belt Conference office. The honor is the first weekly honor of Lowe's career.
Georgia State's Morgan Litumbe was also selected as the conference's co-player of the week on Tuesday, while Texas State's Randi Rupp was named the Sun Belt's Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this spring.
Lowe is the second Jag player this season to earn player of the week honors as MC Nichols was also named the league's co-player of the week during the third week of the season on Feb. 28.
Her selection marks the 14th time in program history that USA has had an offensive earn the weekly accolade and the 34th conference weekly honor for a Jaguar.
Lowe had her best week of the season and was instrumental in not only helping the Jaguars record their second-straight Sun Belt series sweep, but also sparking a pair of 5-plus-run innings. In her three games, Lowe was 7-for-9 (.778) at the plate, while walking once, scoring four runs and stealing a pair of bases. Lowe reached base in nine of her 10 plate appearances against the Eagles and had three multi-hit games.
With USA leading 1-0 in the series opener, Lowe led off the sixth with a pinch-hit single – one of her two hits in the frame – and scored once to ignite a six-run inning. After the 2-for-2 performance in game one, Lowe was rewarded with a start and answered the call posting a 2-for-4 showing at the plate with a stolen base.
Celebrating 21st birthday on Sunday in the series finale, Lowe reached base all four of her plate appearances and set a season high and tied a career high with a 3-for-3 performance at the plate with a walk. Lowe also scored a pair of runs and had her second stolen base of the weekend. Trailing 2-0 in the fifth, the Jag left fielder scored South's first run of the game when she came home when Katelyn Gruich was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. In USA's five-run sixth, Lowe walked to load the bases and later came around to score on a GS fielding error.
With her solid three-game performance, Lowe raised her average to .308.
Lowe – who raised her average to .308 over the weekend – and the rest of the Jaguar squad will close out the 2017 regular season with a doubleheader at Troy on Sunday. Game times against the Trojans are set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at the Troy Softball Complex.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund. Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear. All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program. For more information on how you can join visit: jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub
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