SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Samford infielder Garrett Howe and Wofford right-hander Braden Hofmeyer have been named the Southern Conference baseball player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for all competition from Feb. 26 -March 3. The awards are selected by the league office.
 
Samford’s Howe hit .706 (12-of-17) with three doubles, a home run and nine RBIs in five games last week. He had at least one hit in each of the five games and had three hits in three of the contests. He also drove in two or more runs in three of the contests. He went 3-for-4 with a double, last Tuesday night (Feb. 27) at No. 19 Auburn. The Dacula, Georgia, native had three RBIs in each of the first two games against Bellarmine last weekend and two RBIs in game three of the four-game series.

Wofford’s Hofmeyer made two starts last week and did not allow a run in 8.0 total innings of work. He allowed only four hits and two walks total while striking out six batters and earning a win. The right-hander made his first start of the week at Charlotte in midweek action, tossing the first three innings of the game and allowing only a hit and walk. He followed up in the series finale against Fordham on Sunday (March 3) with five shutout innings to claim the win, giving up just three hits and one walk. The Chino Hills, California, native fanned six batters, while lowering his ERA on the season to a minuscule 0.53. Of the four hits he allowed, none went for extra bases, and only two runners advanced to scoring position while Hofmeyer was on the mound.   

Samford (8-4) is scheduled to visit North Alabama on Tuesday (March 5), before hosting Charleston Southern in a three-game set over the weekend. Wofford (9-2), which is riding a three-game win streak, is slated to host Lafayette College in a three-game series over the weekend.
 
Other nominees for player of the week: Thomas Rollauer (The Citadel), Cameron Sisneros (ETSU), Brandon Prince (Mercer), Matt Venuto (UNCG), Justin Starke (VMI), Kyle Riesselmann (Western Carolina) and Tyler Hare (Wofford)
 
Other nominees for pitcher of the week: Ben Hutchins (The Citadel), Derek McCarley (ETSU), Bryant Olson (Mercer), Garrett Miller (UNCG), Michael Ross (Samford), Van Alstine Marcus (VMI) and Dusty Revis (Western Carolina)
 


2024 SoCon Baseball Players of the Week
Feb. 19                            Caleb Cozart, Sr., INF, UNCG
Feb. 26            Parker Lester, Jr., 1B, Mercer
March 4          Garrett Howe, Sr., INF, Samford

2024 SoCon Baseball Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 19                           Michael Ross, Sr., RHP, Samford
Feb. 26            Julien Peissel, So., RHP, UNCG
March 4        Braden Hofmeyer, Jr., RHP, Wofford