SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina shortstop Pascanel Ferreras and right-handed pitcher Zebby Matthews have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all games from May 2-8. The selections, Ferreras’ second consecutive and Matthews’ first of the season, are made by the league office.
 
Ferreras remained hot at the plate and led the Catamount offense for the second straight week in his four appearances this week, batting .611, tallying 11 hits, and scoring eight total runs with three doubles, two home runs and nine RBIs in the Catamounts’ midweek game against USC Upstate and Western Carolina’s weekend conference series against Mercer. The sophomore started the week by going 2-for-5 in the Catamounts’ 15-6 win over the Spartans on Wednesday, May 4, before going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, two doubles, one home run and one run scored in the Catamounts’ 9-2 series-opening victory over the Bears on Friday, May 6, and 3-for-5 with three RBIs, one double and one run scored in Western Carolina’s 15-5 series-clinching win the following day. Ferreras concluded the weekend by going 3-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, a two-run home run and three runs scored in the Catamounts’ 10-9 series-finale win over Mercer on Sunday. The Stone Mountain, Georgia, native drew one walk and boasted a .667 on-base percentage and a 1.111 slugging percentage.
 
Matthews threw eight innings in his two relief appearances on the mound for Western Carolina this week, striking out 12 batters and allowing only one run and no walks in the Catamounts’ two series victories over the Bears on Saturday and Sunday. The junior hurler tossed three innings in Western Carolina’s 15-5 win on Saturday, recording five strikeouts and allowing four hits in the victory to conclude the contest with the save. He pitched five innings in the Catamounts’ 10-9 series finale victory, allowing no runs, two hits and finishing with seven strikeouts to earn the win. The Cullowhee, North Carolina, native, surrendered just six total hits on the week, with his save marking his fourth of the season and his win marking his 10th of the 2022 campaign.
 
Western Carolina (24-23, 8-7 SoCon) hits the road for its next four games, traveling to Kennesaw, Georgia, on Wednesday, May 9, for a nonconference game against Kennesaw State at 5 p.m. ET before traveling to Spartanburg, South Carolina, for a conference series against SoCon-leading Wofford (35-13, 12-3 SoCon) on May 13-15.

Also nominated for player of the week: Collin Price (Mercer), Hogan Windish (UNCG), Colton Ledbetter (Samford), Zac Morris (VMI) and Lawson Hill (Wofford).

Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Colton Cosper (Mercer), Jared Mathewson (UNCG), Michael Ross (Samford), JT Inskeep (VMI) and Coulson Buchanan (Wofford).

2022 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 21             Hogan Windish, Jr., INF, UNCG
Feb. 28             Cole Simpson, Sr., OF, The Citadel
March 7             Justin Starke, R-So., INF, VMI
March 14          Zach Ketterman, So., INF, Western Carolina
March 21           John Dempsey, Sr., INF, Wofford
March 28           Ryan McCarthy, Gr., OF, The Citadel
April 4                Brennen Dorighi, Sr., OF/INF, Wofford
April 11              Bryce Hodge, Sr., INF, ETSU
April 18              Angelo DiSpigna, Jr., INF, Mercer
April 25             Brennen Dorighi, Sr., OF/INF, Wofford
May 2                Pascanel Ferreras, So., SS, Western Carolina
May 9                Pascanel Ferreras, So., SS, Western Carolina
 
2022 SoCon Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 21             Tyler Bradt, R-So., VMI
Feb. 28             Tyler Bradt, R-So., VMI
March 7             Matthew Marchal, Jr., Wofford
March 14           Zach Kirby, Sr., ETSU
March 21           Devin Beckley, Gr., The Citadel
March 28           Dalton Rhadans, Sr., Wofford
April 4                Josh Vitus, 5th, Wofford
April 11              Michael Ross, So., Samford
April 18              Dalton Rhadans, Sr., Wofford
April 25             Josh Vitus, 5th, Wofford
May 2                Jackson Kelley, Jr., Mercer
May 9                Zebby Matthews, Jr., Western Carolina