SPARTANBURG, S.C. – ETSU first baseman Cameron Sisneros and The Citadel right-hander Gant Starling have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from May 1-7. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Sisneros hit .500, had on-base percentage of .588 and slugged 1.643 on the week, hitting five home runs and a double, scoring eight times and driving in seven runs in four games. Sisneros reached base three times in his first game of the week, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI single and getting hit by a pitch. He also scored a run in the 14-6 setback. In a weekend series at No. 16 Oklahoma State, Sisneros was 5-for-10, with all five hits leaving the yard. After a solo homer in Friday’s 7-4 loss, the junior from Littleton, Colorado, hit another solo shot and drew a walk, scoring twice, in Saturday’s 17-7 loss. In Sunday’s series finale, Sisneros hit three home runs, drilling a two-run shot in the first and solo bombs in the fifth and seventh innings of the 20-7 setback. He also walked and scored in the third, giving him four runs and four RBIs on the day. With hits in 12 of his last 13 games, Sisneros, who on Monday was named one of Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week, powered by Diamond Sports, is batting .375 on the season.
 
ETSU (20-25, 6-9 SoCon) hosts UNC Asheville for Senior Day festivities on Tuesday at 5 p.m. before visiting VMI (24-24, 8-9) for its final SoCon road series. The first game of that series begins Friday at 6 p.m.
 
Starling did not allow an earned run across three relief appearances last week. The senior from Wayne County, Georgia, opened his week with 2 2/3 innings of middle relief at Charleston Southern on Wednesday, allowing just an unearned run on three hits and a walk, striking out three, in the 8-7 loss. In the Bulldogs’ weekend series against military rival VMI, which entered the series leading NCAA Division I with a team batting average of .335, Starling threw 6 2/3 innings of scoreless ball, starting with a two-inning save in Friday’s 5-3 win in which he allowed just two hits and a walk, striking out one. In Sunday’s series finale, Starling worked the final 4 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three, in the 3-2 VMI win. For the week, he allowed seven hits and two walks, striking out seven over 9 1/3 combined innings of work.
 
The Citadel (21-23, 6-9) returns to action at Western Carolina (18-28, 6-11) for a three-game SoCon set starting Friday at 5 p.m.
 
Also nominated for player of the week: Crosby Jones (The Citadel), Kennedy Jones (UNCG), Lucas Steele (Samford), Trey Morgan (VMI), Cole Jones (Western Carolina) and Dixon Black (Wofford).
 
Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Luke Thomas (UNCG), Jacob Cravey (Samford), Will Riley (VMI), Ryan White (Western Carolina) and Charlie Weber (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
April 17        Trey Yunger, Sr., OF, Wofford
April 24        Carter Sanford, Jr., C, Mercer
May 1          John Anderson, Jr., DH, Samford
May 8          Cameron Sisneros, Jr., 1B, ETSU
 
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
April 17        Will Riley, R-So., RHP, VMI
April 24        Nathanial Tate, Sr., RHP, ETSU
May 1          Mike Eggert, Jr., RHP, Wofford
May 8          Gant Starling, Sr., RHP, The Citadel