SPARTANBURG, S.C. - College of Charleston right fielder Daniel Aldrich has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week while Western Carolina right-handed pitcher Jordan Smith has been selected as the league's Pitcher of the Week for all games from May 7-13.
Aldrich hit two home runs, two doubles and two triples while recording at least one hit in all five Charleston games last week. He batted .421 (8-for-19) on the week while slugging 1.053 and driving in five runs. The sophomore from Mt. Pleasant, S.C., came just a double away from hitting for the cycle on Saturday night against UNC Asheville. In Monday's 4-2 win at Clemson, Aldrich belted a game-tying solo home run in the fourth inning in addition to a double and a walk.
Smith tossed a five-hit, complete game shutout as Western Carolina took the first game of its three-game series over Georgia Southern. He limited GSU to five singles and allowed only one runner to reach second base in the 4-0 Catamount victory. The sophomore from Liberty, N.C., retired the first eight batters of the game before allowing the first hit. Smith struck out four against one walk with one hit by pitch, and for the contest, he limited Georgia Southern to a .167 batting average while improving to 4-4 on the season.
Other hitters receiving consideration were Hector Crespo (Appalachian State), Bo Thompson (The Citadel), T.D. Davis (Georgia Southern), Cole Harrison (UNCG) and David Roney (Wofford).
Other top performers among pitchers were Seth Grant (Appalachian State), Kyle Owings (College of Charleston), Austin Pritcher (The Citadel), Justin Hess (Georgia Southern), Dylan Hathcock (UNCG), Josh Martin (Samford) and Brandon Yarusi (Wofford).
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
April 16 Bradley Goodson, College of Charleston
April 23 Tyler Tewell, Appalachian State
April 30 Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston
Saxon Butler, Samford
May 7 Phillip Ervin, Samford
May 14 Daniel Aldrich, College of Charleston
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
April 16 Henry Sisson, Davidson
April 23 Cash Collins, Wofford
April 30 Spencer Medick, Elon
May 7 Stephen Gary, Furman
May 14 Jordan Smith, Western Carolina