Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - April 21

Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - April 21

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Charleston Southern designated hitter Kaden Smith (Yanceyville, N.C.) has been named the Big South Baseball Player of the Week, UNC Asheville's Clay Edmondson (Greensboro, N.C.) is the Starting Pitcher of the Week for games played April 14-20, it was announced today. In addition, Winthrop's Walker Brodt (Katy, Texas) was selected as the Relief Pitcher of the Week, while Radford catcher/first baseman Tyler Sparrer (Christianburg, Va.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
 
Smith batted .545 (6-for-11) with four home runs, a double and 15 RBI in a three-game weekend sweep of Longwood. He hit two grand slams and had at least one homer in all three games, finishing with a 1.727 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .533. Smith opened the series with a homer and three RBI before going off in game two with three hits, two homers, including a grand slam, a double, and a career-high seven RBI. In game three, he helped Charleston Southern cap the sweep with two hits, a second grand slam in as many games, and five RBI. 
 
Edmondson led UNC Asheville past one of the hottest teams in the nation, earning the win against High Point after scattering five hits over 7.0 shutout innings, striking out eight while allowing just one walk. The right-hander struck out the side in the second inning and recorded at least one strikeout in all but two frames. He capped his outing by fanning each of the final two batters he faced in the seventh inning.
 
Brodt made two strong relief appearances on the week, totaling 5.1 innings pitched with just three hits and one earned run allowed, while striking out nine. The junior tossed a scoreless inning against Davidson on Tuesday, surrendering only one hit and striking out three. Brodt followed that effort by earning the win in Thursday's series opener at Gardner-Webb, pitching the final 4.1 innings. He gave up just two hits, allowed one run, and struck out six to secure the 7-5 victory.
 
Sparrer played a key role in Radford's perfect 4-0 week, hitting .500 (8-for-16) with two runs scored, seven RBI, one double, and two walks. The junior was consistent across all four starts, highlighted by a 4-for-4 performance with four RBI and a double in the Highlanders' win on April 18 against Presbyterian. He also delivered the go-ahead, game-winning two-RBI single in the April 17 series opener. Sparrer reached base at a .556 clip for the week, did not strike out once in 16 at-bats, and was flawless defensively, finishing with 21 putouts, six assists, and a 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate.

Also nominated for Player of the Week: Christian Smith (High Point), Myles Webb (Longwood), Rhogue Wallace (Presbyterian), James Ward (Radford) and Wylie Waters (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Starting Pitcher of the Week: Tyrell Williams (Presbyterian), Breckin Nace (Radford), Darin Kuskie (USC Upstate) and Owen Sarna (Winthrop).
 
Also nominated for Relief Pitcher of the Week: Kyle Lewis (Charleston Southern), Wyatt Bunch (Longwood), Mikey Marroquin Jr. (Presbyterian), Jaxon Kehoe (Radford) and Max Kaplan (USC Upstate).
 
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Mac Tufts (Longwood), Matthew Rollison (Presbyterian), Henry Zenor (USC Upstate) and Colin Crowley (Winthrop).