SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Furman catcher Paul Nitto has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week while Wofford right-handed pitcher Brandon Yarusi has been selected as the league's Pitcher of the Week for all games from April 2-8.
Nitto recorded a pair of hits in each game of the Paladins' three-game series win over Elon, finishing 6-of-11 (.545) for the week. The junior catcher drove in six runs and scored five of his own while four of his six hits went for extra bases. Nitto belted a pair of home runs as well as two doubles to notch a 1.273 slugging percentage on the week. The junior from Greenville also drew six walks, reaching base 12 times in 17 plate appearances for a 706 on-base percentage. Furman's series win was its first over the Phoenix since 2004, and it halted Elon's conference series win streak at 10.
In a 2-0 win over Western Carolina on Friday, Yarusi pitched the first complete-game shutout for Wofford against a SoCon opponent since the Terriers joined the league in 1998 and the first overall since 2001. It was the first nine inning complete-game shutout since 2001 for a Wofford pitcher. A junior from Belmar, N.J., Yarusi struck out seven without issuing a walk. He scattered nine singles against the league's best hitting team to improve to 3-3 on the season.
Other hitters receiving consideration were Will Callaway (Appalachian State), Brandon Murray (College of Charleston), Michael Burruss (Georgia Southern), Saxon Butler (Samford), Jacob Hoyle (Western Carolina) and Mac Doyle (Wofford).
Other top performers among pitchers were Ryan Arrowood (Appalachian State), David Peterson (College of Charleston), Kevin Connell (The Citadel), Kyle Webb (Elon), Chris Beck (Georgia Southern), Charles Basford (Samford) and Morgan McKinney (Western Carolina).
2012 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 20 Saxon Butler, Samford
Feb. 27 Thomas Troelstrup, UNCG
March 5 Will Owens, Furman
March 12 Ross Heffley, Western Carolina
March 19 Will Callaway, Appalachian State
March 26 Brandon Murray, College of Charleston
April 2 Alex Swim, Elon
April 9 Paul Nitto, Furman
2012 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 20 Eric Eck, Wofford
Feb. 27 Ryan Arrowood, Appalachian State
March 5 Ryan West, College of Charleston
March 12 Josh Martin, Samford
March 19 Dylan Clark, Elon
March 26 Seth Grant, Appalachian State
April 2 Chris Beck, Georgia Southern
April 9 Brandon Yarusi, Wofford