SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman first baseman Deon Sanders and right-hander Will Gaddis have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games May 2-8. The selections are made by the league office.
Sanders hit .571, slugged 1.286 and had an on-base percentage of .667 in four games last week, reaching base in 10 consecutive plate appearances at one point. He hit three home runs and a double, drew four walks and accounted for seven RBIs and six runs scored as Furman took on No. 23 Clemson and picked up a series win against Western Carolina.
The freshman from Franklin, Tenn., had a pair of hits and a walk in the Paladins’ 7-6, 11-inning loss to the Tigers on Wednesday, including an RBI single. He followed that up with a 3-for-3 showing in Friday’s 11-4 win over the Catamounts, walking twice and hitting two homers for four RBIs and three runs scored.
Sanders reached base four more times in Saturday’s 9-8 win, again going 3-for-3 with a walk as the Paladins rallied from a 7-1 deficit. He hit a solo home run and an RBI double, scoring twice, before being held hitless in Sunday’s finale.
Also nominated: Clay Martin (The Citadel), Blake Rowlett (ETSU), Trey Truitt (Mercer), Michael Goss (UNCG), Hunter Swilling (Samford) and Caleb Robinson (Western Carolina).
Gaddis earned the win Friday against the Catamounts, throwing his second career complete game, both of which have come against Western Carolina. Gaddis struck out seven and did not walk a batter, surrendering just one earned run on nine singles in nine innings of work. He did not face a three-ball count on the day.
The sophomore from Brentwood, Tenn., retired the side in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings after the Catamounts took advantage of a second-inning error to plate four runs, only one of which was earned. Gaddis allowed just four hits after the second inning as the Paladins scored the last 11 runs of the contest.
The win was Gaddis’ fifth in his last six starts and improved his record to 8-2 on the year. Gaddis leads the SoCon in innings pitched (80 2/3) and wins.
Furman (22-26, 10-8 SoCon) heads to Asheville, N.C., Tuesday to take on UNC Asheville at 6 p.m. before heading to Lexington, Va., for a three-game series at VMI (18-30, 2-16 SoCon) starting Friday.
Also nominated: Zach Lavery (The Citadel), Jamin McCann (ETSU), Andrew Wantz (UNCG), Korey Anderson (Western Carolina) and Matthew Milburn (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
April 18 L.J. Kalawaia, UNCG
April 25 Alex Lee, Samford
May 2 Hagen Owenby, ETSU
May 9 Deon Sanders, Furman
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
April 18 Matt Frisbee, UNCG
April 25 Bryan Sammons, Western Carolina
May 2 Elliot Lance, Wofford
May 9 Will Gaddis, Furman
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