SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI outfielder Matt Dunlevy and Samford left-hander Samuel Strickland have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games Feb. 19-25. The selections are made by the league office.

Dunlevy, a senior from Richmond, Virginia, batted .583 last week, going 7-for-12 with four home runs, helping VMI to a perfect 4-0 week. Against No. 15 Virginia on Tuesday, Dunlevy registered a hit, three RBIs, a walk and scored a run in the 9-4 win. In the homestand against Lafayette, Dunlevy had six hits, five RBIs, two home runs and four walks as the Keydets swept the Leopards to improve their overall record to 5-2 on the season.

As a junior, Dunlevy batted .279 with three home runs and 30 RBIs. Dunlevy currently leads VMI with a .389 batting average, a .778 slugging percentage and a .577 on-base percentage.

VMI will play Virginia in a rematch on Tuesday before hosting Oakland for a three-game series beginning on Friday.

Also nominated: Taylor Cothran (The Citadel), Dillon Stewart (UNCG), Brandon Michie (Mercer), Max Pinto (Samford), Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) and McClain Bradley (Wofford).

Samford’s Strickland made the first home start of his collegiate career on Saturday, tossing seven-scoreless innings as the Bulldogs defeated Harvard 8-0. A true freshman from Birmingham, Alabama, Strickland struck out nine batters, allowing just two hits while picking up his second win of the season.

Samford, which sits at 5-3 overall, will face the University of Alabama on Tuesday before traveling to Kennesaw State for a three-game series beginning on Friday.

Also nominated: Alex Bialakis (The Citadel), Jake Mahew (UNCG), Austin Cox (Mercer), Zak Kent (VMI), Jake Niezen (Western Carolina) and Austin Higginbotham (Wofford).

2018 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 19       Jake Crawford, Furman
Feb. 26       Matt Dunlevy, VMI 

2018 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 19       Micah Kaczor, ETSU
Feb. 26       Samuel Strickland, Samford

-www.SoConSports.com-