CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Following the opening weekend of Softball, the Big South Conference announced the weekly awards where Redshirt Freshman, Laney Jennings was included in the weekly awards. Jennings was featured in the first round of Big South Softball Freshman of the Week honors, marking the fourth consecutive season that a player has opened their first weekly honor after opening weekend with the program. 

After a long-awaited collegiate debut, Laney Jennings quickly introduced herself to Spartan Army as Upstate Softball opened their season at the Founders Classic with a four-game slate against Saint Francis and Towson on Friday, February 6 followed by Ohio and Saint Francis on Saturday, February 7. On day one of the Founders Classic, Jennings with a hit, two runs scored and an RBI followed by adding another in the matchup against Towson. Day two of the Founders Classic saw Jennings take a step forward firing off a four-hit game against MAC Opponent, Ohio University. Within her massive performance, Jennings knocked two solo homeruns out of Cyrill Stadium, which contributed coming back from a 7-3 deficit and rallying back for the Spartans to overcome the Bobcats with a walk off 10-9 final. On a three-RBI performance, Jennings also added two runs scored, which brought more eyes on what she could do in the following game against Saint Francis. In the final game of the Founders Classic, Jennings capped off her opening weekend performance going 3-for-3 at bat, including knocking a duo of two-run homers in the same inning (marking four total homeruns in the same day) heading the Spartans into a run rule win over the Red Flash. Jennings finished the weekend batting .563 through four games, going 9-for-16 at the plate, scoring six runs, drove in eight runs across the four-game stretch, tallied four homeruns and led with a 1.313 slugging percentage. Laney Jennings has quickly become respected by the coaching staff and her peers due to her work ethic and competitive edge. Following a stellar weekend to open her collegiate career, Jennings adds her first weekly honor being named the Big South Freshman of the Week. Laney Jennings turns her focus to the Wings Etc. Classic on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14 where she looks to continue consistent play.  

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