Baseball Southern Conference

Strong, Curry Earn Weekly Baseball Honors

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina second baseman Bradley Strong and Samford right-handed reliever Parker Curry have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games April 14-20. The selections are made by the league office.

Strong hit .389 in four games last week, helping the Catamounts to a 3-1 mark and a 2-0 sweep in an abbreviated league series against The Citadel. The Richlands, Va., native was 7-for-18 on the week, with five of his seven hits going for doubles. He also scored four runs, drove in three and stole three bases.

Strong opened his week with a 4-for-7 showing in the Catamounts’ 9-6 win at Winthrop on Tuesday. He hit two doubles and stole two bases in the contest. He also drew a walk and scored a run. The next day at No. 29 Tennessee, Strong went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

After WCU’s first game with The Citadel was rained out on Friday, Strong was 0-for-4 in Saturday’s contest, which was suspended and finished Sunday. He rebounded with a 2-for-4 showing in Sunday’s regularly scheduled game, hitting two doubles and driving in three runs as the Catamounts completed the sweep. Strong also scored twice and swiped another base in the win.

Strong was flawless in the field in 26 total chances and was part turning of three double plays.

Western Carolina (26-12, 11-3 SoCon) returns to action Wednesday at nationally ranked Clemson before heading to Birmingham, Ala., for a three-game SoCon set at Samford.

Other top hitters included: Michael Pierson (Appalachian State), Drew DeKerlegand (The Citadel), Forrest Brandt (Davidson), Casey Jones (Elon), Andrew MacLatchie (Furman), Garrett Chapman (Georgia Southern), Caleb Bryson (Samford) and James Plaisted (Wofford).

Samford’s Curry went 2-0 with a save in three relief appearances last week, allowing just two hits and no runs in 6 2/3 inning of work.

The sophomore from Pelham, Ala., work 1 2/3 inning of hitless relief against Auburn on Tuesday, walking one and striking out three to pick up the win.

Against Georgia Southern on Saturday, Curry retired all five batters he faced to claim his first save of the season. The following day, he allowed two hits in 3 1/3 innings of relief to grab the win in the second game of a doubleheader. He struck out one, giving him five strikeouts in his three appearances on the week.

Samford (24-16, 9-6 SoCon) will host Troy on Tuesday to kick off a five-game homestand before welcoming in Western Carolina for three games this weekend.

Other top pitchers included: Tyler Moore (Appalachian State), Ryan Lowe (Davidson), Jake Stalzer (Elon), Jacques de Gruy (Furman), Josh Wirsu (Georgia Southern), Jordan Smith (Western Carolina) and Jesse Morris (Wofford).

2014 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 17    Heath Quinn, Samford
Feb. 24    Stryker Brown, Georgia Southern
March 3    Aaron Mizell, Georgia Southern
March 10    Forrest Brandt, Davidson
March 17    Adam Martin, Western Carolina
March 24    Jordan McDonald, UNCG
March 31    Tyler Filliben, Samford
April 7    Dillon Dobson, Appalachian State
April 14    Matt Brill, Appalachian State
April 21    Bradley Strong, Western Carolina

2014 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 17    Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
Feb. 24    Jake Stalzer, Elon
March 3    Jake Stalzer, Elon
March 10    Lucas Bakker, Elon
March 17    Lucas Bakker, Elon
March 24    Ryan Frederick, Georgia Southern
March 31    Jeremy Null, Western Carolina
April 7    Josh Wirsu, Georgia Southern
April 14    Tyler Frazier, UNCG
April 21    Parker Curry, Samford

-www.SoConSports.com-