Feb. 16, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. - North Carolina's Danielle Spaulding, as well as Florida State's Sarah Hamilton and Ashley Stager, have been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Softball Pitchers and Player of the Week, respectively, after several strong performances in the second week of the season. UNC's Spaulding and FSU's Hamilton won three games in the circle to earn Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. Stager, the Seminole shortstop, hit .571 on the weekend to lead Florida State to a 4-1 record on the week.

Stager, a sophomore from Trinity, Fla., went a combined 8-for-14 on the week to earn ACC Player of the Week honors. The Seminoles registered wins over Florida A&M, Appalachian State, Miami (OH) and No. 23 Purdue to improve to 8-2 this season. Stager scored five runs and knocked in three more to lead Florida State. Defensively, she did not commit an error in the five games last week. Overall, Stager is on a seven-game hit streak which ties for the second longest in the conference this season.

Spaulding, a junior from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., continued her torrid strikeout pace with 40 Ks in 18.0 innings of work to earn ACC Co-Pitcher of the Week honors. Spaulding did not allow a run last week and struck out the maximum in her four innings of work against UNC Wilmington. Overall last week, she struck out over half (55%) of the batters she faced in her three appearances. Spaulding was 3-0 on the week to improve her overall record to 4-0 this season. The honor is her second of the season.

Florida State's Hamilton, a sophomore from Tallahassee, Fla., was a perfect 3-0 last week with wins of Florida A&M, Miami (OH) and No. 23 Purdue. She allowed only one run and scattered 11 hits over 16 innings of work. The Seminole hurler also fanned 27 batters while not allowing a walk or an earned run. Hamilton also posted 13 strikeouts in the Seminoles' win over cross-town rival Florida A&M on Wednesday.

North Carolina will head west this weekend to the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Florida State will host South Alabama on Wednesday before opening the Seminole Classic on Saturday against East Carolina.