SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Samford center fielder Phillip Ervin has been named the Southern Conference Baseball Player of the Week while Furman left-handed pitcher Stephen Gary has been selected as the league's Pitcher of the Week for all games from April 30 - May 6.
Ervin hit .533 (8-of-15) in helping lead Samford to a 3-1 record in four games last week, including its first series victory at Georgia Southern since joining the Southern Conference. The sophomore from Leroy, Ala., had two hits in each of Samford's four games during the week while scoring seven runs and totaling three doubles and a home run. Ervin reached base at a .588 clip and notched a .933 slugging percentage.
In four relief appearances last week, Gary was credited with wins in all three Paladin victories. He worked 7.2 innings and allowed only three singles, no earned runs, and two walks while striking out a SoCon-high nine batters on the week. Opponents hit just .115 against him. The senior southpaw from Greenwood, S.C., was the winning pitcher against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday and in two games versus Wofford over the weekend, pitching the final two-plus innings in both victories against the Terriers.
Other hitters receiving consideration were Tyler Zupcic (Appalachian State), Daniel Aldrich (College of Charleston), Mason Davis (The Citadel), Joey Tomko (Elon), Will Miller (Furman), Eric Phillips (Georgia Southern), Cambric Moye (UNCG), Dale Urquhart Jr. (Western Carolina) and Mac Doyle (Wofford).
Other top performers among pitchers were Ryan Arrowood (Appalachian State), Christian Powell (College of Charleston), Logan Cribb (The Citadel), Henry Sisson (Davidson), David Whitehead (Elon), Kyle Rowe (Georgia Southern), Andres Gracia (Samford), Preston Hatcher (Western Carolina) 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
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