SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI third baseman Cole Jenkins and The Citadel right-hander Cameron Reeves have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from April 3-9. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
VMI’s Jenkins hit .571 with a triple, four home runs, six RBIs and six runs scored to lead the Keydets’ offense last week. The junior from Mechanicsville, Virginia, fashioned a 1.571 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .600 in leading VMI to a 2-1 week. In Tuesday’s 6-4 loss at VCU, Jenkins was 2-for-4 with a triple, a single and a steal of home. In Thursday’s doubleheader sweep of Western Carolina, Jenkins went a combined 6-for-10, clubbing a pair of home runs in both games. In the opener, a 14-11 win in 10 innings, Jenkins hit a solo home run, a two-run blast and an RBI single, also drawing a walk, scoring three times and driving in four runs. In the nightcap, a 17-12 Keydet win, Jenkins hit two more solo homers, adding a single and a steal as VMI clinched the series win before the third game was rained out. Jenkins was also named Perfect Game USA’s Player of the Week and one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week, powered by Diamond Sports.
 
VMI (18-14, 5-3 SoCon), which has already exceeded its overall win total from last season, steps back out of conference this week to visit Norfolk State on Wednesday at 3 p.m. before hosting SIUE for a three-game set this weekend, starting Friday evening.
 
The Citadel’s Reeves threw a three-hit shutout against Ball State on Friday, striking out eight and not walking a batter in the seven-inning, 4-0 win. The graduate student from Rock Hill, South Carolina, allowed just three singles, one of which came via bunt. After surrendering a two-out base hit in the first inning, Reeves did not allow another hit until the sixth. He struck out two batters each in the first, second, fifth and seventh innings en route to his second career complete game and first career shutout. At 6-1 on the season, Reeves is tied for fourth in NCAA Division I in wins. He also ranks 11^th in hits per nine innings with just 5.14 and 0.95 WHIP checks in at No. 26 nationally.
 
The Citadel (15-16, 1-5) returns to league action this week with three games at UNCG (16-16, 4-5), starting Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Also nominated for player of the week: Nick Iannantone (ETSU), Jozsef Rohrbacher (Mercer), Kennedy Jones (UNCG), Jayden Davis (Samford) and David Wiley (Wofford).
 
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Nathanial Tate (ETSU), Colton Cosper (Mercer), Jake Wolf (UNCG), Jacob Cravey (Samford), Trey Morgan (VMI) 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
March 27      Stephen Klein, Sr., 1B, Samford
April 3          Dosi Jonas, Jr., DH, UNCG
April 10        Cole Jenkins, 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
March 27      Nick Torres, Gr., RHP, Western Carolina
April 3          Colton Cosper, So., LHP, Mercer
April 10        Cameron Reeves, Gr., RHP, The Citadel