Big South Announces Baseball Players of the Week - Feb. 20
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (www.BigSouthSports.com) – Presbyterian College infielder Joel Dragoo (Beckville, Texas) has been named the Big South Baseball Player of the Week, while the Blue Hose’s Daniel Eagen (Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) is the Starting Pitcher of the Week for games played during the opening weekend of the regular season, it was announced today. In addition, USC Upstate’s Jake Cubbler (Mullica Hill, N.J.) was selected the Relief Pitcher of the Week while Presbyterian’s Tristan McGregor (Sarasota, Fla.) is the Freshman of the Week honoree.
Dragoo hit .583 (7-12) with 14 RBI, eight runs scored, four home runs and one double in a perfect 4-0 weekend for Presbyterian against Saint Peter’s. He amassed 20 total bases and finished the series with a 1.667 slugging percentage and a home run in every game. The junior infielder opened the season with a 2-run home run on Friday before smacking a second 2-run blast in game two on Saturday, followed by a third that night in game three. Dragoo rounded out the week with a double and a solo shot on Sunday within the first two innings of play to help PC jump out to a commanding lead. He also totaled four walks on the week and was hit by a pitch twice.
Eagen pitched 5.0 complete innings allowing only two hits, one walk and no earned runs in Presbyterian’s season opener against Saint Peter’s. He struck out eight of the 18 batters he faced while giving up just one extra-base hit en route to picking up the win. The right-hander set down the side in order in the first two innings before allowing his first baserunner via a single in the third. He went on to strike out two batters in the fourth before fanning the side in the fifth to complete his afternoon.
Cubbler struck out a career-high eight batters and gave up no runs over 5.0 innings against Kentucky on Saturday, the longest relief appearance of his career by nearly two full innings. Facing a Wildcats returning six starts from last season’s Super Regional team, allowed only three hits and one walk while picking up at least one strikeout in all five innings, including multiple punchouts in three of his five innings of work. Six of his eight strikeouts came via swing-and-miss, and all three hits allowed were singles.
McGregor started the third game of Presbyterian’s series against Saint Peter’s. He logged 4.0 complete innings with six strikeouts, allowing just two hits and one earned run en route to picking up his first-career win. The freshman right-hander tallied one strikeout apiece in each of the first three innings before striking out the side in order in the top of the fourth to complete his outing. Overall, McGregor held opposing batters to a .143 average against him in his first-career start.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Tommy Tavarez (Gardner-Webb), Sam Schner (High Point), Willie Havens (Longwood), Troy Hamilton (USC Upstate) and Will Dorrell (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Starting Pitcher of the Week: Michael Ciminiello (Gardner-Webb), Gus Hughes (High Point), Ethan Walker (Longwood) and Reese Lumpkin (Winthrop).
Also nominated for Relief Pitcher of the Week: Anthony Ramirez (Charleston Southern), Jake Potts (High Point), Sean Gibbons (Longwood) and Kyle Mueller (Presbyterian).
Also nominated for Freshman of the Week: Matt Galiant (Charleston Southern), Parker Dixon (Gardner-Webb), Dawson Harman (High Point), Kyle Miller (Longwood), Vance Sheahan (USC Upstate) and Jaylen Hernandez (Winthrop).