SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Citadel outfielder Cole Simpson and Mercer right-handed pitcher Garett Delano have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games from March 8-14. The selections are made by the league office.
Simpson went 8-for-15 in four games over the past week, hitting .533 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBIs. He opened the week with a two-run homer against No. 5 South Carolina that gave the Bulldogs the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the series opener against Davidson, he had one double and came back in game two to go 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. On Sunday, the sophomore from Pendleton, South Carolina, had three hits with a double and a pair of RBIs in the series finale.
The Citadel (7-7) will open its conference slate on Friday, March 19, against Wofford (10-6) at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park in Charleston, South Carolina. The Bulldogs lead the SoCon with a .304 batting average as the league’s eight teams are set to open conference action this weekend.
Mercer’s Delano made one appearance this weekend against Marshall, picking up his first win of the season in his first start as a Bear. He went seven innings, limiting the Thundering Herd to two hits and tallying a career-high 11 strikeouts. Eight of his strikeouts were recorded between the fourth and seventh innings. This season, the graduate student from Callahan, Florida, has pitched 14 2/3 innings, tallied 20 strikeouts and only allowed five hits.
Mercer (5-9) will travel to Florida A&M for a two-game midweek series on Tuesday, March 16, and Wednesday, March 17, before its conference-opening series against Western Carolina (11-4) begins on Friday, March 19, at home.
Also nominated for player of the week: Ethan Cady (ETSU), Brandon Michie (Mercer), Corey Rosier (UNCG), Trey Morgan (VMI), Justice Bigbie (Western Carolina) and Colin Davis (Wofford).
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Cameron Reeves (The Citadel), Hunter Loyd (ETSU), Brendan Collins (UNCG), Zebby Matthews (Western Carolina) and Hayes Heinecke (Wofford).
2021 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 22 Justice Bigbie, Western Carolina
March 1 Sonny DiChiara, Samford
March 8 Corey Rosier, UNCG
March 15 Cole Simpson, The Citadel
2021 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 22 Taylor Lobus, Mercer
March 1 Zebby Matthews, Western Carolina
March 8 Jackson Kelley, Mercer
March 15 Garett Delano, Mercer
-www.SoConSports.com-