SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG designated hitter Dosi Jonas and Mercer left-hander Colton Cosper have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from March 27 to April 2. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
UNCG’s Jonas hit .636 with two doubles, four home runs, 12 RBIs and five runs scored on the week, slugging 1.909 and putting together an on-base percentage of .667. After striking out in a pinch-hitting appearance in the Spartans’ 6-2 loss at NC State on Tuesday, Jonas went 4-for-4 with a walk, two doubles, two homers, five RBIs and three runs scored in Saturday’s 13-9 loss at VMI. After hitting a solo home run in the second inning, the junior from Stanley, North Carolina, doubled in the sixth and eighth innings before hitting UNCG’s first grand slam of the season as part of a five-run ninth-inning rally. In Sunday’s 14-8 win over the Keydets, Jonas was 3-for-6 with seven RBIs, hitting two more home runs on the day. After another solo blast in the second inning, Jones hit a two-run single in the eighth to tie the game at 8 before adding his second grand slam in as many days to cap a six-run ninth. Jonas was 7-for-11 on the week, with six of his hits going for extra bases.
 
UNCG (14-14, 3-3 SoCon), visits local rival High Point on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before heading to Birmingham, Alabama, to take on league-leading Samford (16-12, 5-1) for a three-game SoCon set starting Thursday evening.
 
Mercer’s Cosper threw five shutout innings to lead the Bears to a 2-1 win over Western Carolina on Friday. Making his third straight start, the sophomore southpaw from Carrollton, Georgia, allowed just four hits and two walks, striking out a season-high six batters in earning his first win of the season. After surrendering a double to the first batter of the day, Cosper struck out two of the next three to escape the early jam. He induced a pair of 4-6-3 double plays on the evening and faced the minimum over a nine-batter stretch from the third to fifth innings. Mercer’s win was also the 649^th of head coach Craig Gibson’s career, making him the program’s all-time leader.
 
Mercer (18-11, 3-3 SoCon) hosts Florida A&M on Tuesday at 6 p.m. before welcoming CSUN for a three-game nonconference series beginning Thursday evening.
 
Also nominated for player of the week: Ashton King (ETSU), Jackson Cherry (Mercer), Stephen Klein (Samford), Justin Starke (VMI), Pascanel Ferreras (Western Carolina) and Ryan Galanie (Wofford).
 
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Cade Carlson (ETSU), Jacob Cravey (Samford), Nathan Light (VMI), Gavin Mortenson (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
March 27      Stephen Klein, Sr., 1B, Samford
April 3          Dosi Jonas, Jr., DH, UNCG
 
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