Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - Feb. 27

Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - Feb. 27

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Liberty redshirt-senior first baseman Sammy Taormina (Rock Hill, S.C.) has been named the Big South Conference Baseball Player of the Week, while Presbyterian College redshirt-junior right-hander Will Smith (Sumter, S.C.) has been named the Pitcher of the Week for games played Feb. 20-26, it was announced today by the Conference office. In addition, UNC Asheville infielder Brandon Lankford (Mocksville, N.C.) has been named the Come Ready Nutrition Freshman of the Week.
 
Taormina extended his hitting streak to seven games as he closed the week 9-for-15 (.600) with five RBI and four runs scored. The first baseman opened the week with a 2-for-4 performance with a run scored and RBI in Liberty’s 5-4 win in its home opener on Wednesday against Kentucky. On Friday, he finished 2-for-3 with a pair of home runs, headlined by a three-run shot to give the Flames a lead they would not relinquish in an 8-5 win over UMBC. In back-to-back games against Kansas State to conclude the weekend, the redshirt-senior went 5-for-8 with a double and a run scored.
 
Smith made a pair of relief appearances in Presbyterian’s home weekend series with Stony Brook. On Friday, the right-hander tossed 2.2 innings, struck out two hitters and claimed the victory in the Blue Hose’s 7-6 series-opening triumph. On Sunday, he entered the game with two outs in the seventh, allowed just one hit and struck out a pair to claim the save in a 2-1 series-clinching victory.
 
Lankford closed last week 7-for-18 (.389) with six RBI and seven runs scored to pace UNC Asheville at the plate. The freshman posted multi-hits in three of Asheville’s four games, headlined by home runs in consecutive games against James Madison and Wofford.
 
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Drew Butler (Campbell), Chris Singleton (Charleston Southern), Justin Mitchell (Longwood), Tyler Weyenberg (Presbyterian College) and Justin Woods (UNC Asheville).
 
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Tyson Messer (Campbell), Eddie Hiott (Charleston Southern), Michael Catlin (Longwood), Zack Ridgely (Radford) and Reece Green (Winthrop).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Matthew Barefoot (Campbell), Ryan Stoudemire (Charleston Southern), Tyler Morgan (Longwood) and Eric Miles (Presbyterian College).