Monday, March 02, 2009

MACON, Ga. - Zach Johnson’s power stick pushed the Camels record to 6-1 while Jacksonville hurler Carson Andrew tossed five scoreless innings against nationally-ranked Michigan to earn to Atlantic Sun’s Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, the conference office announced on Monday.

Johnson, a junior from Smithfield, N.C. finished the week batting 10-of-18 (.556), with three home runs and 11 RBI. Johnson also scored eight times for the Camels over the four games, of which, the Camels picked up three wins. The trust management major set career marks on Tuesday at North Carolina A&T for RBI in a game, five, as he collected the first multi-homer game of his career. Johnson (3-of-5, two RBI) proved an integral part of Campbell’s rally against Kennesaw State in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader. Johnson’s double to left center field scored two runs to cut the deficit to just one run. Later in the game Johnson would score the tying run. Through the opening two weeks of the season, he leads the A-Sun in average, .593 and RBI, 16.

Andrew shut down No. 25 Michigan during the JU Invitational. The right-hander from Jacksonville allowed only one run on five hits while walking one and striking out six in 5.0 innings of work. The nursing major opened his 2009 season by allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out three in a predetermined start against FIU (four innings). He currently leads the staff with a 2-0 record, a 3.00 ERA and nine innings pitched. He ranks as the only A-Sun pitcher to have recorded two wins in two starts this season.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Ryan Fern, USC Upstate (Fr. - P - Oviedo, Fla. - Business Administration) -- Pitched 6.1 scoreless innings in first career start, allowing five hits in 12-1 win against 2008 A-Sun runner up Gardner-Webb on Tuesday; In the non-conference game, he allowed just two runners to reach third base and retired seven in a row from the first to third innings

Preston Hale, UNF (Jr. - OF - Lakeland, Fla. - Criminal Justice) -- Hit .522 (12-for-23) with three doubles, a home run, six runs scored and eight RBI in five games. Recorded a .783 slugging percentage and .560 on base percentage. Against Ohio State last Friday, he went 4-for-5 with a double. In his final two games over the weekend against Ohio State and George Mason, he totaled seven RBI.

Dustin Plumlee, ETSU (Sr. - P - Powell, Tenn. - Sports Management) -- In two appearances Plumlee pitched almost to perfection picking up a save in three innings of work at Virginia Tech and a win against Rider. Plumlee allowed only two runs (one earned) on two hits in six innings, while walking none and striking out one. On the week opponents hit .087 against him. Plumlee is tied for most wins in the conference with two, and is second in saves with two.

Chris Sale, FGCU (So. - P - Lakeland, Fla. - Criminal Justice) -- Received his first win of the 2009 season with a win against in state rival South Florida, throwing 7.1 innings, and striking out seven. Sale held the Bulls to only three runs to give the Eagles their fourth victory of the season.

Justin Sanders, Lipscomb (Sr. - DH/1B - Conyers, Ga. - Marketing) -- Hit four doubles, two triples and a home run as the Bisons went 3-1 for the week with three wins versus Bradley at home and a loss on the road at Auburn. His second triple in the eighth inning in the first game of a doubleheader set him up to score the game-winning run in a 4-3 win. He has at least one hit in every game this season. He had multiple hits in three of the four games including four hits in an 8-2 win Saturday over Bradley.

Jacob Tanis, Mercer (Fr. - 3B - Peachtree City, Ga. - Undeclared) -- Tanis led the Bears to a 2-1 record on the week while hitting .636 with three home runs and six RBI. The freshman hit a pair of home runs against Georgia State on Wednesday and added another in game two against Bryant on Saturday to give him a total of four on the year, tied for the league lead. Tanis went 7-for-11 at the plate and added two doubles to go along with his three home runs on the week while boasting a slugging percentage of 1.636.

Jimmy Tanner, USC Upstate (Jr. - C - Fayetteville, Ga. - Informatics) -- Had two perfect games during the week, going 4-for-4 with a run, a homer, a double and four RBI in 12-1 win against Gardner-Webb on Tuesday; Posted second five-hit game of Division I era for Spartans against Army on Friday, going 5-for-5 with four RBI and two doubles; Raised average to .464 and with 12 RBI, third in the A-Sun.

Jace Whitmer, USC Upstate (Jr. - C - Kennesaw, Ga. - Psychology) -- Hit three home runs in doubleheader with Campbell. Hit .555 in the doubleheader, starting by going 2-for-5 in game one of the doubleheader with two runs scored and two RBI. In game two, went 3-for-4 with solo homers in back-to-back innings. Also threw out four runners trying to steal during the week.