SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford infielder Sonny DiChiara and Western Carolina right hander Zebby Matthews have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games from Feb. 22-28. The selections are made by the league office.
DiChiara played in four games last week, including a three-game series against No. 7 Florida. The junior from Hoover, Alabama, hit .417 with a double, three home runs and four RBIs. He began the week at home against Alabama State and hit .500 with three runs. In the Bulldogs’ last game against the Gators, DiChiara homered twice in Sunday’s narrow 10-9 loss to the team’s first ranked opponent of the 2021 season. The infielder leads the conference with five home runs and 24 total bases.
Samford (3-4) is slated to host Jacksonville State on Wednesday, March 3, at 5 p.m. ET and will host a three-game series this weekend against Toledo.
Western Carolina’s Matthews struck out seven batters in the Catamounts’ 8-2 win over UNC Wilmington, the Colonial Athletic Association preseason favorite. He held the Hawks scoreless in his seven innings pitched, picking up his fifth victory in six appearances for the squad. The sophomore from Cullowhee, North Carolina, did not allow a runner past second base in any of his seven innings.
The Catamounts (5-3) will face their first ACC opponent of the 2021 season when the squad travels to Winston- Salem, North Carolina, for a 6 p.m. game against Wake Forest on March 3. The game will air on ACC Network Extra.
Also nominated for player of the week: Noah Mitchell (The Citadel), Ethan Cady (ETSU), Greg Hardison (UNCG), Justin Stark (VMI) Daniel Walsh (WCU) and Lawson Hill (Wofford).
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Jake Pilarski (The Citadel), Hunter Loyd (ETSU), Jack Voigt (UNCG), Jacob Menders (VMI), and Josh Vitus (Wofford).
2021 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 22 Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina
March 1 Sonny DiChiara, Samford
2021 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 Taylor Lobus, Mercer
March 1 Zebby Matthews, Western Carolina
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