NEW ORLEANS – Marshall senior first baseman Rielly Lucas earned Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week honors, after leading the Thundering Herd to a road sweep at James Madison during the second weekend of league play.
Lucas, a Huntington, W.Va., native, had a stellar performance in the Herd’s 5-0 week, hitting four home runs in the series with James Madison and adding one in a midweek victory at Miami (Ohio). She finished the week with a .556 batting average (5-for-9), three walks, and 11 total bases.
This marks Lucas’ first career Player of the Week recognition and makes her the first Marshall player to earn the honor since Bella Gerlach in 2024.
In Marshall’s 14-4 victory over James Madison in game two of the series, Lucas hit two home runs, drove in three runs, and scored three times. She also homered in the series opener and added another in the series finale. Lucas’ hot bat helped propel the Thundering Herd to a dominant sweep over the Dukes.
2025 Sun Belt Softball Players of the Week
Week 1 – Taylor McKinney, 2B/OF, Troy
Week 2 – Georgia Hood, 1B, Coastal Carolina
Week 3 – Maddy Jennings, C, Coastal Carolina
Week 4 – Makayla McClain, 2B, App State
Week 5 – Payton List, UTIL, James Madison
Week 6 – Gabby Stagner, INF, South Alabama
Week 7 – Rielly Lucas, 1B, Marshall
Pitcher of the Week: Maddie Johnson
Georgia Southern freshman pitcher Maddie Johnson also earned Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week honors for the second time this season after dominating in three appearances. Johnson posted a 0.62 ERA across 11.1 innings and allowed just one run on five hits, tallying eight strikeouts.
Johnson’s standout performance came in Georgia Southern’s series against Appalachian State, where she earned a win in game one, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing just one run on four hits in a 5-3 victory. She also picked up her first career save in a 4-1 win in game three, tossing two hitless innings.
2025 Sun Belt Softball Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 – Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
Week 2 – Madison Azua, Texas State
Week 3 – Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
Week 4 – Maddie Johnson, Georgia Southern
Week 5 – Nicolette Picone, Coastal Carolina
Week 6 – Madison Azua, Texas State
Week 7 – Maddie Johnson, Georgia Southern
Photo Credit: Marshall University