Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - May 23
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) –- Campbell’s Zach Neto (Miami, Fla.) has been named the Big South Baseball Player of the Week, while UNC Asheville’s Ryan Douglas (Climax, N.C.) is the Starting Pitcher of the Week for games played the final week of the regular-season, it was announced today. In addition, USC Upstate’s Austin Morgan (Easley, S.C.) was selected the Relief Pitcher of the Week, while Charleston Southern’s Ryan Waldschmidt (Tampa, Fla.) and Gardner-Webb’s Tyler Switalski (Waynesburg, Pa.) shared Freshman of the Week honors.
Neto hit .462 (6-13) with 7 RBI, 7 runs scored, 2 doubles, 2 home runs, a 1.077 slugging percentage and .563 on-base average in three games last week. He opened with two hits, two runs and a 3-run home run at East Carolina last Tuesday. Neto then hit .500 in two wins over Radford. He was 2-4 with two runs, a double and a walk in the series opener, and went 2-4 with a double, homer, 4 RBI and three runs scored in game two.
Douglas tossed 5.0 scoreless innings in defeating Winthrop, 6-0, on Friday. He allowed just three singles and one walk while striking out four batters to help the Bulldogs secure a berth in the upcoming Ingles Big South Baseball Championship.
Morgan earned a win and a save in two relief appearances last week. He first went 2.0 scoreless innings against Kennesaw State last Tuesday in which he allowed just one hit and struck out a batter as the Spartans rallied for a 4-2 victory. Morgan then saved Upstate’s 6-5 victory at Ohio State on Thursday with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
Waldschmidt batted .600 (6-10) with 7 RBI, 5 runs scored, one double, one home run and four walks in helping the Bucs sweep Longwood and clinch a berth in this week’s conference tournament. He provided a run-scoring single in the series opener, then walked four times in addition to hitting a two-run homer. Waldschmidt concluded the series on Friday with four hits, four RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases.
Switalski allowed just four hits and two walks in seven shutout innings in his start against North Carolina A&T on Friday. He fanned six batters in the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ victory.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Ryan Waldschmidt (Charleston Southern), Cole Singsank (High Point), Camden Jackson (North Carolina A&T), Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville) and Devin Buckner (USC Upstate).
Also nominated for Starting Pitcher of the Week: Cade Kuehler (Campbell), Sam Garcia (High Point) and Noah Sullivan (USC Upstate).
Also nominated for Relief Pitcher of the Week: Cameron O’Brien (Campbell), Jerry Couch (Charleston Southern), Teddy Merritt (High Point), Evan Demurias (North Carolina A&T) and Justin Honeycutt (UNC Asheville).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Everett Vaughan (High Point), Evan Demurias (North Carolina A&T), Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville), Noah Sullivan (USC Upstate) and Jack Spyke (Winthrop).