SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina outfielder Kramer Ferrell and Citadel left-hander JP Sears have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games March 21-27. The selections are made by the league office.
Ferrell hit .625 with a .625 on-base percentage and a 1.063 slugging percentage as the Catamounts faced No. 3 North Carolina and won their opening SoCon series over ETSU. Ferrell had two home runs, a double, six runs scored and seven driven in on the week, extending his current hitting streak to eight games.
After a 1-for-3 outing against the third-ranked Tar Heels on Tuesday, Ferrell torched the Bucs for a .636 average in the three-game set, recording multiple hits in each contest. The senior from Ellensburg, Wash., opened his series with a 3-for-4 showing in a 14-8 loss, hitting a home run and a double and collecting two RBIs and two runs scored. Ferrell had a stolen base and two hits in Friday’s 12-11 WCU win, including a three-run homer. In the rubber match Saturday, Ferrell matched his career high with four hits, scoring three times and knocking in two as the Catamounts claimed the series with a 15-9 win.
Western Carolina (11-12, 2-1 SoCon) hosts nationally ranked Clemson on Wednesday before heading to Wofford (16-9, 1-2) for a three-game SoCon series over the weekend.
Also nominated: William Kinney (The Citadel), Trey York (ETSU), Cameron Whitehead (Furman), Kyle Lewis (Mercer), L.J. Kalawaia (UNCG), Heath Quinn (Samford) and Alec Paradowski (Wofford).
Sears won his second weekly award of the season after striking out 19 batters in a 10-2 win over VMI on Friday. He went eight innings, allowing just one run on three hits and two walks in moving to 4-1 this season. Sears’ 19 Ks were one shy of the school record and tied for fourth in a single game in SoCon history. The total was also the best in the NCAA this season.
After allowing a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth inning, the sophomore southpaw from Sumter, S.C., retired the final 15 Keydets he faced, striking out 13 of them – with a stretch of seven in a row – before departing with a 10-1 lead. Five of the first six outs he recorded in the game came via strikeout.
Sears was also named one of Collegiate Baseball’s Louisville Slugger National Players of the Week for his efforts.
The Citadel (11-13, 2-1 SoCon) hosts Charleston Southern on Tuesday before heading to Conway, S.C., to face Coastal Carolina on Wednesday. The Bulldogs then head to DeLand, Fla., for a weekend series at Stetson.
Also nominated: Will Gaddis (Furman), Taylor Lobus (Mercer), Chad Sykes (UNCG), Parker Curry (Samford), Brandon Barbery (VMI), Colton Davis (Western Carolina) and Will Stillman (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
March 28 Kramer Ferrell, 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
March 28 JP Sears, The Citadel
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