SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford infielder Brooks Carlson and Western Carolina right-hander Chase Walter have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games April 30-May 6. The selections are made by the league office.
Helping the Bulldogs to a bounce-back 3-1 week, Carlson was 7-for-13 from the plate, scoring four runs while driving in a pair against UAB and Wofford, respectively. Against UAB on Tuesday, the Mobile, Alabama, native was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, two runs scored and a double to help Samford snap its seven-game losing streak. After working a walk in Friday’s 4-2 series-opening win against Wofford, the true freshman went 3-for-4 with an RBI in Saturday’s 6-4 extra-inning loss. In the series finale on Sunday, the infielder registered two hits, two runs scored and one RBI as the Bulldogs claimed the series over Wofford with a 5-4 win. Carlson boasts the highest average on the team (.326), while ranking second on Samford in runs scored (33) and third in walks (18).
Lifting the Catamounts to their first win in eight games, Walter threw a complete-game four-hitter at Furman on Friday as Western Carolina edged out the Paladins 2-1. The redshirt freshman got an early 2-0 lead from his teammates and never looked back, striking out eight batters while walking just two. A native of Peachtree City, Georgia, Walter did not surrender an earned run while picking up his second victory of the season. For the year, Walter has thrown 63 1/3 innings and struck out 51 batters.
Both Samford and Western Carolina return to the diamond on Wednesday. The Bulldogs travel to Jacksonville State at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, while the Catamounts visit Clemson at 6:30 p.m.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Bryce Leasure (The Citadel), Easton Welch (UNCG), Lee Bassett (Mercer), Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) and Lawson Hill (Wofford).
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Jordan Buster (The Citadel), Easton Welch (UNCG), Wyatt Burns (Samford) and Jake Hershman (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
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
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