SoCon Announces Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week

SPARTANBURG, SC – Mercer sophomore Braydon Kersey was named SoCon Player of the Week and ETSU junior Michael Harpster was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week following the second week of the 2026 season.

Kersey (Alpharetta, GA / Alpharetta HS) showed off his versatility last week in four wins for the Bears, batting .400 with four runs scored, a double, two home runs, and 9 RBI at the plate, and picking up a save in two appearances out of the bullpen. Kersey’s first career home run came in the eighth inning of Friday’s series opener against preseason Ivy League favorite Columbia – a grand slam that put an exclamation point on Mercer’s comeback win over the Lions. He continued to shine the following day, going 3-for-5 with a double and another home run in a 20-6 victory. Kersey closed his weekend with two hits and a stolen base at the plate and came on to pick up the save in a 5-4 decision that capped the sweep. He also had a relief appearance in a midweek win over Georgia State, hurling a scoreless frame. Kersey is batting .296 on the season with 11 RBI in seven games played.

Harpster (Lynchburg, VA / E.C. Glass HS) was sharp in his start against Sacred Heart, firing 5.0 no-hit, shutout innings to set the stage for a 26-3 win by ETSU. He struck out the side in the first inning and finished with nine strikeouts in the win. Harpster allowed only three batted balls to leave the infield and ended each of his five innings with a swinging strikeout. The junior righty has 13 strikeouts in 8.2 innings overall this season.

Mercer (6-1) hosts Florida A&M in a two-game midweek series on Tuesday and Wednesday. ETSU (6-1) hosts App State on Wednesday in Johnson City.

Also nominated for Player of the Week: Brantley Truitt (UNC Greensboro), Axel Melendez (ETSU), Zachary Hunt (The Citadel), Cole Cook (VMI), Wyatt Stanley (Western Carolina)

Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Blayne Newman (Wofford), Noah Chapman (UNC Greensboro), Jess Ackerman (Mercer), Will Holmes (The Citadel), Hunter Sipe (VMI), Evan Myers (Western Carolina)

2025-26 SoCon Player of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Quarless, R-So., Western Carolina (C, Winston-Salem, NC)

Feb. 23 – Braydon Kersey, Jr., Mercer (DH/INF, Alpharetta, GA)

2025-26 SoCon Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 16 – Andrew Marble, Jr., Samford (RHP, Hurley, MS)

Feb. 23 – Michael Harpster, Jr., ETSU (RHP, Lynchburg, VA)