SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI outfielder Will Malbon and Wofford left-hander Adam Scott have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games Feb. 27 to March 5. The selections are made by the league office.
VMI’s Malbon hit .636 and slugged 1.364 on the week to lead the Keydets to a series win over George Washington. The senior from Virginia Beach, Virginia, drove in seven runs and scored four, counting a double, two triples and a home run among his seven hits. He struck out just once in 14 plate appearances.
Malbon walked twice and hit a two-run triple in Friday’s 10-0 win over the Colonials, adding a stolen base and a run scored. The next day, he was 3-for-3 with three RBIs, falling a double short of the cycle with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly. In Sunday’s rubber game, Malbon again pounded out three hits, collecting two singles and a double and driving in two as the Keydets rallied from a six-run deficit for the 13-8 win.
The weekly award is the first of Malbon’s career.
VMI (5-6) takes the midweek off before hosting Quinnipiac for a three-game set starting Friday at 3 p.m.
Also nominated: Jonathan Sabo (The Citadel), Aaron Maher (ETSU), Landon Kay (Furman), Danny Edgeworth (Mercer), Ryan Clinch (UNCG), Troy Dixon (Samford), Matt Smith (Western Carolina) and Cody Miller (Wofford).
Wofford’s Scott (1-2) picked up his first win of the season Friday, striking out a career-high 17 batters in a win over the ACC’s Pittsburgh, 4-3. The junior southpaw from Canandaigua, New York, pitched into the ninth inning, allowing two runs on just two hits and a walk.
Scott’s 17 Ks were the most in Wofford’s Division I era, the second-most in school history and the most by a Terrier since 1956. They are also tied for the most by an NCAA DI pitcher this season.
Scott struck out the first seven batters of the game and at least two in each of the first four frames. He struck out the side three times and was perfect through the game’s first 12 batters before allowing a leadoff double in the fifth. He departed with one out in the ninth, a 4-1 lead and a runner on base that eventually scored and was charged to him.
The weekly award is the third of his career, as he also earned one each in 2015 and 2016.
Wofford (3-8) kicks off a 14-game home stand Tuesday when it hosts La Salle at 5 p.m.
Also nominated: JP Sears (The Citadel), Blake Smith (ETSU), Heath Hawkins (Furman), Ryan Askew (Mercer), Matt Frisbee (UNCG), Wyatt Burns (Samford), Josh Winder (VMI) and Tristan Baker (Western Carolina).
2017 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 20 Chris Cook, ETSU
Feb. 27 Charlie Madden, Mercer
March 6 Will Malbon, VMI
2017 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 20 Matt Frisbee, UNCG
Feb. 27 JP Sears, The Citadel
March 6 Adam Scott, Wofford
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