SPARTANBURG, S.C. ? Davidson third baseman Andrew Barna has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week while Appalachian State right-handed pitcher Matt Andress has been selected as the league’s Pitcher of the Week for all games from February 22-28.
Barna led Davidson at the plate, batting a team best 11-for-19 (.579) and slugging 1.053 as the Wildcats were a perfect 5-0 on the week. The freshman third baseman started every game in the field and did not commit an error, tallying fire putouts and nine assists. He turned in four multi hit games, recording a hit in every game. The Suwanee, Ga., native had a three-run triple and scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning against Mount St. Mary’s on Sunday as Davidson set a SoCon record with 17 innings in the first frame.
ASU’s Andress moved to 2-0 on the young season by allowing just one run on four hits over six innings while striking out a career-high 12 in Friday's 13-4 win over Niagara. Andress' only blemish came on a wind-aided solo home run. The 12 strikeouts shattered the Charlotte native’s previous career high of nine, set two years ago at Jacksonville State, and they were the most by an ASU pitcher since Dan Stutzman struck out 12 versus Marshall on March 15, 1997.
Other hitters receiving consideration were Appalachian State’s David Towarnicky, The Citadel’s Matt Simonelli, Western Carolina’s Ollie Goulder, College of Charleston’s Matt Leeds, Elon’s Seth Canipe, Georgia Southern’s Eric Phillips, UNC Greensboro’s Ed Jayjack, Samford’s Stephen Ballard and Wofford’s Taylor Rozier.
Other top performers among pitchers were The Citadel’s Matt Talley, Samford’s Lex Rutledge, Davidson’s Mike Frongello, College of Charleston’s Christian Powell, Georgia Southern’s Michael Hester, UNC Greensboro’s Colby Hyatt, Western Carolina’s Vance Chavis and Wofford’s John Cornely.
2010 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 22 Corey Overholtzer, UNC Greensboro
March 1 Andrew Barna, Davidson
2010 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 Asher Wojciechowski, The Citadel
March 1 Matt Andress, Appalachian State