Kara Wine was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week on March 17 after helping South Alabama secure a weekend sweep over in-state rival Troy, according to an announcement from the league office.
This recognition is the first for Wine in her career and marks the second time this season that a South Alabama player has received one of the conference’s weekly awards. Earlier, Ryley Harrison was named pitcher of the week following opening weekend. The program has now had a position player earn this award 26 times and has collected either player or pitcher honors on 67 occasions.
Wine led South Alabama with a .500 batting average over four games last week, reaching base safely in seven out of twelve plate appearances and drawing two walks. The freshman catcher drove in five runs, hit two home runs, and recorded three extra-base hits. She managed at least one hit and one run batted in during each game.
Against ninth-ranked Florida State on Wednesday, Wine went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, and a walk. Her sixth-inning home run cut Florida State’s lead in half. In Friday’s series opener against Troy, she broke a tie with an RBI single. On Saturday, she delivered another key single to give South Alabama an early lead and contributed defensively as the team earned its eighth shutout of the season. In Sunday’s finale, Wine reached base twice and hit another home run that proved to be decisive for the Jaguars’ win.
South Alabama (19-11 overall, 3-0 Sun Belt Conference) is scheduled to host Auburn later tonight at Jaguar Field before traveling for a three-game series against ULM in Monroe.
