SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina outfielder Bryson Bowman and left-hander Tristan Baker have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games March 14-20. The selections are made by the league office.
The Catamounts swept the SoCon weekly awards after posting a 4-0 record that included a win over a Gardner-Webb squad that entered the contest 17-1 on the year and a three-game sweep at the Big 12’s Kansas State.
Bowman hit .471 and slugged 1.118 on the week, posting three multiple-hit games. Eight of his hits went for extra bases as he hit three home runs and two doubles and totaled nine RBIs and eight runs scored.
In WCU’s 16-14 slugfest against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, Bowman went 3-for-5 with two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored. He had a three-run home run in the first inning, a solo homer in the seventh and an RBI single in the eighth.
The redshirt junior from Hudson, N.C., went 5-for-12 over the weekend as the Catamounts handed the Wildcats their first nonconference three-game sweep at home since 1993. Bowman had two hits in each of the first two contests, including the eventual game-winning three-run homer in the seventh inning of Friday’s 7-5 victory. He had an RBI double and scored twice in Sunday’s 10-2 win.
Also nominated: Austin Mapes (The Citadel), Kevin Phillips (ETSU), Jabari Richards (Furman), Kyle Lewis (Mercer), Collin Woody (UNCG), Richard Greene (Samford), David Geary (VMI) and McClain Bradley (Wofford).
Baker, a southpaw freshman for the Catamounts, earned a save and a win on the week. He struck out eight against just three walks and did not allow a run.
The rookie from Charlotte, N.C., went 2/3 of an inning against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday, walking two and striking out two in a scoreless outing to nail down his first collegiate save.
Baker went a season-high seven innings Sunday in picking up his second career win, not allowing a run on six hits and a walk. He struck out six and retired seven straight batters from the third through fifth innings.
Western Carolina (9-10) heads to Chapel Hill, N.C., on Tuesday for its seventh road game in its last eight outings, a clash against No. 4 North Carolina. The Catamounts then return home to open SoCon play against ETSU (9-10) on Friday.
Also nominated: Zach Lavery (The Citadel), Lee Haeberle (ETSU), Austin Lord (Mercer), Hunter Smith (UNCG), Jared Brasher (Samford) and Elliot Lance (Wofford).
2016 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 22 Heath Quinn, Samford
Feb. 29 Heath Quinn, Samford
March 7 Kyle Lewis, Mercer
March 14 Peyton Maddox, VMI
March 21 Bryson Bowman, Western Carolina
2016 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 JP Sears, The Citadel
Feb. 29 Ryan Askew, Mercer
March 7 Josh Winder, VMI
March 14 Matthew Milburn, Wofford
March 21 Tristan Baker, Western Carolina
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