ALBEMARLE — A pair of Pfeiffer students were honored Monday when the USA South Athletic Conference announced its latest group of top athletes of the week.
Caiti Mickles of the Falcons’ softball team and Alexis Murriel of the Falcons’ lacrosse team were named to the list of 20 players spanning throughout the conference.
Mickles, a senior outfielder/pitcher, was named Softball Player of the Week for her efforts as the first-place Falcons (32-8, 16-2) posted a 4-0 record last week against USA South competition.
In those games, she posted a .727 batting average, .667 on-base percentage and 1.273 slugging percentage. She also recorded five runs, nine RBIs, three doubles, one home run and one sacrifice fly. Furthermore, she garnered a 2-0 record with a 0.91 ERA from the pitching mound.
The Falcons are now set to host the USA South Divisional Tournament at Jack Ingram Field in Misenheimer from Thursday through Saturday. They will open the tournament against fifth-ranked Wesleyan (19-17, 9-9), a team Pfeiffer has already defeated twice this season.
Murriel was named the Women’s Lacrosse Defensive Player of the Week.
The senior defender/midfielder from Gastonia 10 caused turnovers, 13 draw controls, 13 ground balls, seven goals and three assists over the last week as the Falcons notched a 2-0 record against conference competition.
It was an inconsistent season for the Falcons (5-11, 4-6), who finished their season on a high note with a 14-3 victory over William Peace (2-12, 1-9) on April 19 and a 16-6 victory over Wesleyan (4-13, 3-7) on April 23.
After starting the season 1-6 and struggling against conference opponents, Pfeiffer did not qualify for the upcoming USA South Tournament. Top-ranked Meredith (13-5, 10-0) and second-ranked Southern Virginia (10-6, 9-1) are early title favorites as the postseason event approaches.