SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina outfielder Kramer Ferrell and Samford right-hander Parker Curry have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games April 4-10. The selections are made by the league office.
WCU’s Ferrell hit .636 and slugged 1.636 as the Catamounts swept a three-game series from VMI over the weekend. The senior collected seven hits in 11 at-bats, driving in nine runs and scoring six. Five of his seven hits went for extra bases, as he amassed three home runs and two doubles. He also drew a walk and was hit by pitches twice, putting together a gaudy .714 on-base percentage.
In Friday’s series-opening 7-1 win, Ferrell hit a solo home run and drew a walk. In Sunday’s doubleheader, Ferrell was a combined 6-for-8 with eight RBIs and five runs scored. He had a double and a grand slam with three runs in a 21-7 game-one win and followed that up with four hits in game two, falling a triple short of the cycle and again knocking in four and scoring two as the Catamounts completed the sweep with a 14-11 victory.
The award is Ferrell’s second in three weeks.
Western Carolina moved to the top of the SoCon standings with the three wins and now sits at 17-13 overall and 8-1 in the league after opening the 2016 campaign 3-8. The Catamounts wrap up a seven-game road swing with a Tuesday contest at nationally ranked Clemson before head home to host Samford for a three-game SoCon set this weekend.
Also nominated: Mike Deese (The Citadel), Kevin Phillips (ETSU), Kyle Lewis (Mercer), Collin Woody (UNCG), Heath Quinn (Samford), David Geary (VMI) and Dylan May (Wofford).
Samford’s Curry turned in an outstanding outing Sunday against Wofford, hurling seven innings and allowing just two hits and two walks as the Bulldogs picked up their first shutout of the season, 6-0.
Curry struck out a season-high 11 batters in moving to 3-1 on the season. The senior from Pelham, Ala., threw 120 pitches and allowed just a single in the fourth and another in the seventh after issuing two free passes in the first inning. Curry struck out at least two batters each inning from the second through fifth, getting the side in the fourth.
Samford took two of three from the Terriers to move to 18-14 overall and 5-4 in the league. The Bulldogs host Alabama State on Tuesday before heading to Cullowhee, N.C., to face Western Carolina over the weekend.
Also nominated: Thomas Byelick (The Citadel), Will Gaddis (Furman), Hunter Smith (UNCG), 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
April 4 Carter Grote, Furman
April 11 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
April 4 Andrew Wantz, UNCG
April 11 Parker Curry, Samford
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