SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Mercer first baseman Parker Lester and UNCG right-hander Julien Peissel have been named the Southern Conference baseball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from Feb. 19-25. The awards are selected by the league office.
Mercer’s Lester hit .643, while recording a .485 on-base percentage and a 1.357 slugging percentage over a four-game span, to help the Bears extend their winning streak to six games, with a midweek win over Kennesaw State and a weekend sweep of Monmouth. The Calhoun, Georgia, native was 9-for-14 at the plate, with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs. He doubled, homered twice and drove in five runs in Mercer's series finale with Monmouth on Sunday (Feb. 25).
UNCG’s Peissel was the starting pitcher in the Spartans’ upset win over No. 1 Wake Forest last Tuesday. The right-hander allowed just two hits, one run and one walk over five full innings of work on the mound. He recorded four strikeouts and walked just one batter.
Mercer (5-1) is scheduled to host Florida A&M, on Tuesday (Feb. 27) and Wednesday (Feb. 28), before squaring off against Northeastern in a three-game set over the weekend at OrthoGeorgia Park in Macon, Georgia. UNCG (5-2) is slated to host Elon in a midweek matchup on Tuesday (Feb. 27), before hosting Canisius in a three-game series over the weekend.
Other nominees for player of the week: Javier Crespo (The Citadel), Jamie Palmese (ETSU), Caleb Cozart (UNCG), Garrett Staton (Samford), Trent Turner (Western Carolina) and Andrew Mannelly (Wofford)
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Landon Slemp (The Citadel), Jace Hyde (ETSU), Garrett Lambert (Mercer), Morgan Trey (VMI), Gavin Mortenson (Western Carolina) and Braden Hofmeyer (Wofford)
2024 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 19 Caleb Cozart, Sr., INF, UNCG
Feb. 26 Parker Lester, Jr., 1B, Mercer
2024 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 19 Michael Ross, Sr., RHP, Samford
Feb. 26 Julien Peissel, So., RHP, UNCG