SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI third baseman Justin Starke and ETSU right-hander Nathanial Tate have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 13-19. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Starke hit .571, slugged 1.071 and had an on-base percentage of .667 as the Keydets went 3-1 last week with a weekend sweep of Norfolk State. In Wednesday’s 9-3 loss to James Madison, Starke went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run single. In Friday’s opener against Norfolk State, the redshirt junior from Prince George, Virginia, reached base four times, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. He hit a two-run home run and had an RBI double and an RBI single, also reaching on a walk in the 14-4, seven-inning win. In Saturday’s 11-9 win, Starke hit a triple and later scored in a six-run first inning and added a third-inning walk. Starke wrapped up his week with another two-hit outing, reaching base four times and scoring three runs in a 15-4, seven-inning win. Starke stole four bases as VMI had a school-record 14 on the day. The Keydets set an NCAA Division I record with nine steals in the second frame alone, breaking a mark that had stood since 1993. For the week, Starke totaled six runs scored, eight RBIs and four walks.
 
VMI (13-8) visits Virginia Tech on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before opening league play at defending SoCon regular-season champion Wofford (14-5) on Friday.
 
Tate earned his second SoCon honor in three weeks after throwing six scoreless innings in Sunday’s 12-0, series-clinching win at Tennessee Tech. The senior from Manchester, Tennessee, allowed just two hits and a walk and hit a batter, striking out six in extending his scoreless streak to 19 innings over four starts. Tate allowed just two singles on the day and did not allow a runner past second base. Four of his six strikeouts came consecutively, as he fanned the final two batters of the fifth inning before striking out the first two of the sixth.
 
ETSU (10-8) visits UNC Asheville on Tuesday at 4 p.m. before returning home to open SoCon play against Samford (10-10) on Friday.
 
Also nominated for player of the week: Matthew Lively (The Citadel), Tommy Barth (ETSU), Eli Runyan (Mercer), Lucas Steele (Samford), Kyle Harbison (Western Carolina) and Trey Yunger (Wofford).
 
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Ben Hutchins (The Citadel), Holton McGaha (Mercer), Jacob Cravey (Samford), Holden Wilkerson (VMI), Dylan Wheeler (Western Carolina) and Lucas Mahlstedt (Wofford).
 
 
2023 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 20        Ryan Galanie, Sr., 1B, Wofford
Feb. 27        Zac Morris, R-Jr., SS, VMI
March 6       David Wiley, So., OF, Wofford
March 13      Ryan Galanie, Sr., 1B, Wofford
March 20      Justin Starke, R-Jr., 3B, VMI
 
2023 SoCon Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 20        Josh Harlow, So., RHP, Mercer
Feb. 27        Carson Hobbs, Jr., RHP, Samford
March 6       Nathanial Tate, Sr., RHP, ETSU
March 13      Josh Farmer, R-Sr., RHP, Mercer
March 20      Nathanial Tate, Sr., RHP, ETSU