SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford outfielder Heath Quinn and Mercer right-hander Ryan Askew have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games Feb. 22-28. The selections are made by the league office.
Samford’s Quinn won his second straight weekly award after hitting .471 with four home runs and nine RBIs in four games against BYU over the weekend. After being held in check in the Thursday opener, Quinn made amends in a big way in Friday’s doubleheader, hitting four home runs on the day. He was 2-for-5 with a solo homer in game one and then went for three home runs and a double in game two, driving in seven runs in a 4-for-5 effort as Samford won 10-5. He closed out the series with two more hits Saturday, adding a sacrifice fly and an intentional walk.
Quinn, a junior from Birmingham, Ala., slugged 1.235 on the week. He also threw out a runner at the plate from deep in right in Friday’s second game.
Samford (5-3) hosts crosstown rival UAB on Tuesday at 4 p.m. Central before welcoming ULM for a three-game weekend set.
Also nominated: Jason Smith (The Citadel), Hagen Owenby (ETSU), Jordan Simpson (Furman), Kyle Lewis (Mercer), Collin Woody (UNCG), Collin Fleischer (VMI), Spencer Holcomb (Western Carolina) and Cody Miller (Wofford).
Mercer’s Askew turned in a brilliant outing Friday against Xavier, allowing just one hit in eight strong innings of work. The junior from Suwanee, Ga., struck out nine and walked just one, with his lone blemish coming in the form of a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning.
Askew retired the game’s first 13 batters and faced the minimum through five before allowing his one and only hit the following inning. After issuing his only walk two outs later, Askew retired the final seven batters he faced to finish his stellar day. The Bears would go on to win the contest 3-1 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth.
Mercer (6-1) hosts Florida A&M for a pair of midweek games on Tuesday and Wednesday before hosting Austin Peay for three games this weekend.
Also nominated: Will Gaddis (Furman), Andrew Wantz (UNCG), Jake Greer (Samford), Matthew Eagle (VMI) and Will Stillman (Wofford).
2016 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 22 Heath Quinn, Samford
Feb. 29 Heath Quinn, Samford
2016 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 JP Sears, The Citadel
Feb. 29 Ryan Askew, Mercer
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