SPARTANBURG, SC -- The Southern Conference today named Furman’s A.J. Davidiuk the league’s baseball Player of the Week, while Elon’s Chad Tilley was tabbed as the conference’s Pitcher of the Week.
In four games last week, Davidiuk batted .626 (10-for-17) with seven runs scored, a pair of home runs and four RBIs. In the team’s series with Georgia Southern, the senior shortstop from Indian Trail, NC was 8-for-12 (.667) and helped the Paladins to a series victory over the Eagles. In a loss to GSU on Thursday, Davidiuk went 4-for-5 with a homer and an RBI, then finished the weekend going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs. Davidiuk, who finished with a 1.036 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage, helped Furman overcome a 7-1 deficit -- heading into their half of the sixth -- on Saturday and win 9-7.
The Phoenix’s Tilley is the third Elon pitching recipient in as many weeks to win the league’s honor. The senior right-handed hurler from Charlotte, NC had a hand in all four Phoenix victories this past week. Tilley was 2-0 with a pair of saves, striking out six in 5.0 innings of work. He recorded his first save of the week in a win over Wake Forest, then picked up a victory in relief on Friday against The Citadel, striking out two in 1.1 innings of action. Tilley then picked up his second save on Saturday, before notching a win in the series finale on Sunday.
Others considered for the Player of the Week award included Appalachian State’s Adam Beasley (9-for-18 with seven RBIs and seven walks in five games), College of Charleston’s Alex Garabedian (.583 average with four runs, six RBIs and six walks), The Citadel’s Matt Arnold (6-for-10 with four runs and two RBIs), Davidson’s Alden Crissey (9-for-16 with four doubles and two RBIs in four games), Elon’s Ryan Addison (.357 average with seven RBIs and three home runs), Georgia Southern’s Greg Dowling (.667 average with three homers and nine RBIs), UNC Greensboro’s Sean Snell (hit .389 with three RBIs and two doubles) and Wofford’s John Brandt (two home runs and four RBIs in series against Appalachian State).
Others considered for Pitcher of the Week were Appalachian State’s Jonathan Reeder (complete game six-hit victory over Wofford on Friday, striking out four), College of Charleston’s Nick Chigges (struck out five and allowed one run in win over Western Carolina Friday) and UNC Greensboro’s Nick Starnes (career-high 12 strikeouts in 7.2 innings against Davidson).