Baseball Southern Conference

Citadel Duo Sweeps Baseball Awards

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Citadel shortstop Johnathan Stokes has been named the Southern Conference Player of the Week and Bulldog teammate Austin Pritcher has been named the SoCon Pitcher of the Week for all games April 22-28. The selections are made by the league office.

The duo helped The Citadel to a 3-1 week and a series win over Furman. The Bulldogs ran their winning streak to 10 games before the Paladins rallied for a 14-10 win in Saturday’s series finale.

Stokes hit .600 with a home run, two doubles and nine RBIs on the week. The Cheraw, S.C., sophomore had three multi-hit games, starting with a 2-for-3 night against Charleston Southern on Tuesday. Stokes had three RBIs in the game, two of which came on sacrifice flies, as the Bulldogs took the 8-5 win.

In a 6-0 win over Furman on Friday, Stokes was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and an RBI single. The following day, he again went 3-for-4 in the first game of a doubleheader, this time with a two-run double and a walk as the Bulldogs ran their winning streak to double digits with a 13-7.

Stokes was 1-for-4 with an RBI double and a walk in the finale, which was moved up a day due to the forecast of inclement weather and ended after midnight Sunday.

Other top hitters included: Hector Crespo (Appalachian State), Blake Butler (College of Charelston), Alex Swim (Elon), Greg Harrison (Furman), Chase Griffin (Georgia Southern), C.K. Irby (Samford), Aaron Attaway (Western Carolina) and Clark Wise (Wofford).

Pritcher tossed the first complete game of the season for the Bulldogs and the second shutout of his career in the 6-0 win over Furman on Friday. The senior right-hander retired the first 11 batters, set down the side in order in five innings and allowed multiple runners in only the fourth and fifth innings.

The Charleston, S.C., native struck out six and did not walk a batter. He allowed just five hits on the day and lowered his ERA 30 points to a league-best 2.40 on the season. Pritcher is the SoCon’s active wins leader with 19 for his career.

The Citadel returns to action Wednesday at No. 1 North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Other top pitchers included: Rob Howard (Appalachian State), Matt Pegler (College of Charleston), Ryan Lowe (Davidson), Kyle Webb (Elon), Justin Hess (Georgia Southern), C.K. Irby (Samford), Preston Hatcher (Western Carolina) and Jesse Morris (Wofford).


2013 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 18    Tommy Corbin, Samford
Feb. 25    Josh Hyman, Wofford
March 4    Drew DeKerlegand, The Citadel
March 11    Tyler White, Western Carolina
March 18    Bo Thompson, The Citadel
March 25    C.K. Irby, Samford
April 1    Cambric Moye, UNCG
April 8    Ryan Kinsella, Elon
April 15    Brandon Murray, College of Charleston
April 22    Adam Martin, Western Carolina
April 29    Johnathan Stokes, The Citadel

2013 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 18    Jamie Nunn, Appalachian State
Feb. 25    Adam Curtis, Western Carolina
March 4    C.K. Irby, Samford
March 11    Nate Smith, Furman
March 18    Kyle Webb, Elon
March 25    C.K. Irby, Samford
April 1    Sam Agnew-Wieland, Appalachian State
April 8    Sam Agnew-Wieland, Appalachian State
April 15    Brandon Yarusi, Wofford
April 22    Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
April 29    Austin Pritcher, The Citadel

-www.SoConSports.com-