ROCK HILL, S.C.- Anderson University softball had multiple players land on the All-South Atlantic Conference Team including senior Laken Maxwell earning Pitcher of the Year and freshman Paige Vickery being voted as the Freshman of the Year, released by the league office on Thursday.  

Maxwell was named the SAC Pitcher of the Year and SAC First Team for the second time in her career, garnering the award after a tremendous 2022 season and being named it again in 2024 after an injury plagued junior year. The native of Bowdon, Ga., was a three-time SAC Pitcher of the Week, amassed 225 total strikeouts, which led the SAC and ranks tied for fifth in the NCAA. Maxwell ranks number two in the nation with an impressive 12.1 K's per seven innings pitched and ranked tied for second in the conference for total wins, with 16.

Vickery garnered SAC Freshman of the Year after a stellar freshman campaign. The native of Commerce, Ga., started 43 games at second base posting a .938 fielding percentage and an impressive .331 batting average. Vickery hit 11 home runs for the Trojans which ranked second behind senior Hannah Whitaker's 13 round-trippers. Of Vickery's 11 home runs, three were grand slams.

Sophomore Carson Hobbs was name SAC First Team Designated Player batting a team-leading .432 and posting an on-base-percentage of .555. The native of Nicholson, Ga., hit nine doubles and three home runs while drawing 30 walks for the Black and Gold. Hobbs also made 14 appearances in the circle posting a 5 – 2 – 1sv record which includes striking out 51 batters.

Junior Maddie Carpenter earned SAC Second Team-Outfield. Carpenter posted a .316 batting average which included 11 doubles and eight doubles, both a career best for a season. The native of Hickory, N.C., scored 32 times while driving in 29 runs. In the field, Carpenter had 29 total chances and kept her career error free streak intact. 

Sophomore Shelby Bandt was named to the SAC Second Team-Outfield after batting .373 which includes three doubles and a home run. Then native of Fort Valley, Ga., keeps defenses on edge with her speed and threat of taking the extra base. Bandt started 42 games in left field totaling 49 chances.

Anderson earned hosing rights for the SAC Championship after finishing second in regular season play. The Trojans will host seeds three, six and seven. Wingate won the regular season and will host seeds four, five and eight. The winners from each bracket will meet and play a three-game series to determine the SAC Champion.

The Trojans open play on Friday at 1 pm vs the seventh-seeded Railsplitters from Lincoln Memorial.

2024 SAC Softball All-Conference

All-SAC First Team

OF – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate
OF – Brianna Gallagher, Catawba
OF – Claire Smeltzer, Tusculum
1B – Kary Hales, Catawba
2B – Savanna Brooks, Wingate
SS – Hayden Dye, Carson-Newman
3B – Brooke Matyasovsky, Carson-Newman
DP – Carson Hobbs, Anderson
UTL/Non-P – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman
UTL/P – Sydney Kale, Wingate
C – Lani Warren, Lenoir-Rhyne
P – Laken Maxwell, Anderson
P – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate

All-SAC Second Team

OF – Maddie Carpenter, Anderson
OF – Shelby Bandt, Anderson
OF – Kelsi Scott, Coker
1B – Sierra Brogdon, Newberry
2B – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne
SS – Katelyn Rackard, Lenoir-Rhyne
3B – Riley Tucker, Catawba
DP – Danielle Jason, Tusculum
UTL/Non-P – Danielle King, Emory & Henry
UTL/P – Lauren Rakes, Lenoir-Rhyne
C – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman
P – Emma Frost, Carson-Newman
P – Madison Wilson, Lenoir-Rhyne

All-SAC Third Team

OF – Madison Henry, Lincoln Memorial
OF – Vanessa Wilson, Newberry
OF – Leah Grimes, Mars Hill
1B – Lora Beth Wood, Lenoir-Rhyne
2B – Reese Vivrette, Lincoln Memorial
SS – Ellie Alvarez, Tusculum
3B – Hailey Hill, Newberry
DP – Cassidy Phelps, Newberry
UTL/Non-P – Hannah Bogoski, Lincoln Memorial
UTL/P – Emily Sappington, Tusculum
C – Maia Sholter, Mars Hill
P – Hali Scott, Wingate
P – Lex Glemaker, Newberry

Freshman of the Year

Paige Vickery, Anderson

Player of the Year

Savanna Brooks, Wingate

Pitcher of the Year

Laken Maxwell, Anderson

Coach of the Year

Jamie Stanclift, Wingate

SAC Statistical Champions

Team Batting Average – Carson-Newman (.337)
Team Slugging Percentage – Lenoir-Rhyne (.564)
Team On-Base Percentage – Lincoln Memorial (.446)
Team Runs Scored – Lenoir-Rhyne (336)
Team Home Runs Per Game – Lenoir-Rhyne (1.38)
Team Triples Per Game – Lincoln Memorial (0.30)
Team Doubles Per Game – Carson-Newman (1.83)
Team Stolen Bases Per Game – Tusculum (1.63)
Team ERA – Wingate (2.07)
Team Strikeout-to-Walk Ratio – Anderson (4.11)

Batting Average – Reese Vivrette, Lincoln Memorial (.476)
On-Base Percentage – Reese Vivrette, Lincoln Memorial (.601)
Slugging Percentage – Hayden Dye, Carson-Newman (.803)
Home Runs Per Game – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (0.36)
RBIs Per Game – Macauley Bailey, Carson-Newman (1.40)
Runs Scored Per Game – Macey Hughes, Carson-Newman (1.22)
Triples Per Game – Adyson Gibson, UVA Wise (0.11)
Doubles Per Game – Julia Mardigian, Lenoir-Rhyne (0.44)
Stolen Bases Per Game – Kaylee Hobgood, Wingate (0.51)
ERA – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate (1.49)
Strikeouts Per Seven Innings – Laken Maxwell, Anderson (12.1)
Pitching Victories – Raechel Cutcher, Wingate (29)