After red-hot weeks at the plate, UNC baseball star center fielder Vance Honeycutt and UNC softball freshman Sanaa Thompson were named ACC Players of the Week in their respective sports.

 

Honeycutt left the yard in each of Carolina’s first three games of the week. In total, he batted 6-15 during the week’s four games and slashed .400/.500/1.000 with eight runs batted in.

Honeycutt helped the Tar Heels earn wins over Elon and East Carolina at Boshamer Stadiums with go-ahead jacks against both. Against the Phoenix, it was a grand slam in the fifth inning in an eventual 8-7 win for the Diamond Heels. Against the No. 11 Pirates, Honeycutt swatted a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to break a 1-1 tie in the 2-1 Carolina victory.

The Diamond Heels lost the next two games to the Pirates, but not due to a lack of effort from Honeycutt. He hit a late home run in Saturday’s 7-4 loss in Fayetteville, and drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth in Sunday’s 10-9 loss in Greenville.

Honeycutt and the Diamond Heels will be back in action when they host VCU on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Thompson has been key in UNC softball’s hot start under new head coach Megan Smith Lyon. During a week in which the Tar Heels went 6-1, Thompson batted .632 with two home runs and nine runs batted in. She led the team in slugging (1.053), on-base percentage (.640) runs (11) and walks (six).

Thompson has recorded four multi-hit games in her last seven outings and is yet to play in a collegiate game without recording a hit. She and the Tar Heels will return to action on Tuesday night when they host North Carolina Central at 5 p.m.

 

Featured image via UNC Athletic Communications/Ainsley E. Fauth

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