SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNCG infielder Caleb Cozart and Samford right-hander Michael Ross have been named the Southern Conference baseball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for their efforts over the first weekend of the season. The awards are selected by the league office.
UNCG’s Cozart hit .545 to help lead the Spartans to a three-game, season-opening sweep of Fairfield last weekend. The High Point, North Carolina, native opened the season going 1-for-3 with a home run and a walk as UNCG defeated Fairfield, 10-9, in extra-innings on Feb. 16. Cozart followed by going 2-for-4 with a double, another home run, two runs scored and four RBIs in the Spartans’ 8-7 victory over Fairfield on Saturday. The next day, the senior had two home runs, a walk, four runs scored and six RBIs in UNCG’s 12-7 win against the Stags. For the weekend, Cozart finished with a double, four home runs, a pair of walks, 11 RBIs, seven runs scored, while recording a 1.727 slugging percentage.
Samford’s Ross tossed six full innings, striking out nine batters and allowing just one walk in leading Samford to a 12-1, seven-inning win over Queens in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday. The Lakeland, Florida, native allowed just one hit and one run, while holding the Royals to a .053 batting-average- against.
UNCG (3-0) travels to top-ranked Wake Forest on Tuesday afternoon before returning home to host Binghamton for a three-game weekend series. Samford (3-0) hosts Jacksonville State on Tuesday before visiting UCF for a three-game set over the weekend.
Other nominees for player of the week: Anthony Hausner (The Citadel), Cameron Sisneros (ETSU), Conner Todaro (Mercer), Angelo Prieto (Samford), Nate Stocum (Western Carolina), Marshall Toole (Wofford)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Landon Slemp (The Citadel), Carter Fink (ETSU), Garrett Lambert (Mercer), Luke Thomas (UNCG), Spenser Hamblen (Western Carolina) and Mason Compton (Wofford).
2024 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 19 Caleb Cozart, Sr., INF, UNCG
2024 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 19 Michael Ross, Sr., RHP, Samford