SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Furman’s outfielder Jabari Richards and Wofford’s left-hander Austin Higginbotham have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games March 25-31. The selections were made by the league office.
Starting four games this last week, Richards helped the Paladins to their perfect 5-0 week. In the four games he played, he went 10-for-16 (.625) with three home runs, one being a grand slam, two doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs. He also scored seven runs and recorded one stolen base. Wednesday, the senior hit for the cycle in the Paladins 18-3 victory over Gardner-Webb. He doubled in his first at ball, tripled the second time up, hit a grand slam in the seventh and singled in the ninth, to become the first Paladin to hit for the cycle since Case Cassedy did against Appalachian State in 2006.
The Fayetteville, Georgia, native is currently tied for first in the conference in triples (4) with Western Carolina’s Matthew Koehler. He was also named one of Collegiate Baseball National Players of the Week this week.
Furman (10-16) will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, on Wednesday for a midweek matchup with Georgia State (8-20) before continuing conference action this weekend in Greensboro, North Carolina, against UNCG (17-9).
Also nominated: Ben Peden (The Citadel), Ethan Shelton (ETSU), RJ Yeager (Mercer), Max Pinto (Samford), Coleman Sawyer (UNCG), Immanuel Wilder (Western Carolina), Matty Brown (Wofford) and Josh Hollisfield (VMI).
Wofford’s Higginbotham tossed a complete game on Friday night against Mercer, helping the Terriers to a 4-1 win. He only allowed one earned run while striking out 11, a career-high for the senior.
The Gainesville, Georgia, native leads the SoCon in striking batters out looking (16) and leads the Terriers in innings pitched (48.1), batters struck out (45) and games started (7).
The Terriers (19-11) travel to Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday for a midweek matchup against Wright State University (18-8) before heading to Cullowhee, North Carolina, for a weekend conference series with Western Carolina (12-12).
Also nominated: Jordan Merritt (The Citadel), Micah Kaczar (ETSU), Jesse McCord (Samford), Austin Koehn (UNCG), Chase Walter (Western Carolina) and Zak Kent (VMI).
2019 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 18 Jackson Greer, ETSU
Feb. 25 RJ Yeager, Mercer
March 4 Daylan Nanny, Western Carolina
March 11 Immanuel Wilder, Western Carolina
March 18 Kel Johnson, Mercer
March 25 Jordan Fucci, Samford
April 1 Jabari Richards, Furman
2019 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 18 Shane Connolly, The Citadel
Feb. 25 Jordan Merritt, The Citadel
March 4 Hayes Heinecke, Wofford
March 11 Hayes Heinecke, Wofford
March 18 Zach Kent, VMI
March 25 Shane Connolly, The Citadel
April 1 Austin Higginbotham, Wofford
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