SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI outfielder Matt Pita and ETSU right-hander Ryan Simpler have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games May 14-19. The selections are made by the league office.
Pita finished the regular season strong, hitting .538 with four home runs, five RBIs and five runs scored as the Keydets grabbed the No. 4 seed in the upcoming SoCon tournament. In the series opener on Thursday, the outfielder went 2-for-4 with a solo shot and was hit by a pitch. In Friday’s game, the Richmond, Virginia, native was 3-for-4, smashing two home runs, driving in three runs and scoring three runs. In the regular-season finale on Saturday, the junior had a pair of hits including another solo home run as VMI topped Samford 8-2. Pita leads the league in slugging percentage (.716), hits (85) and doubles (21), while ranking second in batting average (.390) and runs scored (58).
Simpler helped ETSU claim its only win in the series against Wofford over the weekend, throwing 6 2/3 innings while leading the Bucs to a 4-2 victory on Friday. The senior fanned 10 batters while walking just one to lift the Bucs to the win. The Lewes, Delaware, native leads ETSU in strikeouts (90) and innings pitched (87 1/3) while posting a 2018 record of 6-6 for the year.
VMI, which earned the No. 4 seed in the 2018 SoCon Baseball Championship, will face fifth-seeded Mercer on Wednesday at 9 a.m., while No. 6 ETSU faces No. 3 Wofford on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
All games will be broadcast on the SoCon Digital Network.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Jonathan Sabo (The Citadel), Chris Cook (ETSU), Jackson Ware (Mercer), Ryan Clinch (UNCG), Brooks Carlson (Samford), Spencer Holcomb (Western Carolina) and Max McDougald (Wofford).
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Thomas Byelick (The Citadel), Austin Cox (Mercer), Andrew Wantz (UNCG), Jake Niezen (Western Carolina) and Adam Scott (Wofford).
2018 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 19 Jake Crawford, Furman
Feb. 26 Matt Dunlevy, VMI
March 5 Matt Pita, VMI
March 12 Cesar Trejo, UNCG
March 19 Trey Truitt, Mercer
March 26 Caleb Webster, UNCG
April 2 Jackson Ware, Mercer
April 9 Jared Mihalik, Furman
April 16 Matt Pita, VMI
April 23 Caleb Webster, UNCG
April 30 Tripp Shelton, UNCG
May 7 Brooks Carlson, Samford
May 14 Spencer Holcomb, Western Carolina
May 20 Matt Pita, VMI
2018 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 19 Micah Kaczor, ETSU
Feb. 26 Samuel Strickland, Samford
March 5 Samuel Strickland, Samford
March 12 Jack Maynard, UNCG
March 19 Adam Scott, Wofford
March 26 Jordan Buster, The Citadel
April 2 Dylan Spence, The Citadel
April 9 Samuel Strickland, Samford
April 16 Jake Hershman, Wofford
April 23 Adam Scott, Wofford
April 30 Adam Scott, Wofford
May 7 Chase Walter, Western Carolina
May 14 Samuel Strickland, Samford
May 20 Ryan Simpler, ETSU
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