Monday, March 23, 2009

MACON, Ga. - ETSU’s Bo Reeder hit for the cycle to earn his first Player of the Week award, and added a complete game on the mound as the cherry for the week. John Frawley hurled the first UNF shutout in more than four years to earn the Pitcher of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday.

Reeder led the Bucs to a 4-1 week as the freshman had an incredible week that included pitching a complete game win on the mound against UNC Asheville on Tuesday and hitting for the cycle on Saturday against Campbell. On the week, Cookeville, Tenn., native went 11-for-22 with four doubles, one triple, two home runs and drove in seven while scoring six times. The freshman standout slugged 1.045 on the week and also made some outstanding plays in the field for the Bucs robbing the hottest hitting team in the conference of at least a couple hits. In game two of the Campbell series, Reeder came to the plate in the sixth only needing a triple to complete the cycle and crushed a ball to center over the head of Matt Keen to pick up the triple and complete the game a perfect 5-for-5.

In the Tuesday start against UNC Asheville, Reeder, a sports management major, impressed on the mound allowing only two runs on five hits in the game walking only one batter and struck out four. In the same game, Reeder went 2-for-4 helping his own cause by driving in the first run of the game and setting the tone for the Bucs.

Frawley, a senior from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., struck out 10 Belmont hitters on Sunday and allowed just five hits on his way to his first shutout and a 3-0 UNF win on Sunday. The shutout was the first by a UNF hurler since March 2, 2005, when former Osprey Ryan Amason did so against Western Michigan. It was also the first time an Osprey pitcher had struck out 10 batters since Brad Johnson accomplished that feat against Campbell on April 6, 2007. Frawley, an accounting major, also tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief to go along with two strikeouts against FIU last Wednesday. For the week, he recorded a 0.00 ERA in 11.0 innings of work and struck out 12 batters while allowing just seven hits and opposing batters hit just .184.

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

Darren Caldwell, ETSU (Sr. - RHP - Spartanburg, S.C. - Finance) -- Caldwell led Bucs to a series win over the top hitting team in A-Sun. Totaled 5.2 innings pitched allowing Campbell only one hit and struck out one while picking up two wins.

Lath Guyer, Mercer (Jr. - RHP - Athens, Ga. - Sport Management) -- Turned in his second straight career performance against USC Upstate. Worked through the longest outing of his career while striking out 10 batters in a no-decision against the Spartans; His 10 strikeouts tied a career high, set on March 6.

Ryan Hamme, Campbell (Sr. - 1B/P - Wilmington, N.C. - Business Administration) -- Finished the week batting .545 (12-22) with four doubles, four RBI and nine runs scored. The senior also fielded at a .933 clip and pitched a complete game versus ETSU.

javascript:void(0); Kyle Heckathorn, Kennesaw State (Jr. - RHP - Ringgold, Ga. - Sports Management) -- Pitched a five-hit shutout against Southern Utah. Heckathorn did not allow a walk and struck out 11 Thunderbirds. His shutout was KSU's first nine-inning shutout since May 4, 2007.

Matt Loosen, Jacksonville (Jr. - RHP - New Hyde Park, N.Y. - Business) - In his first start of 2009 set the tone for a series win over FGCU at Swanson Stadium. Finished the contest allowing two runs on five hits with a career-high seven strikeouts in a career-best 7.1 innings as JU won 3-2.

Justin Sanders, Lipscomb (Jr. - 1B/DH - Conyers, Ga. - Marketing) -- Extended hit streak to a team-high and career-high 10 games. Has hits in 19-of-21 games. His two-run home run in the fourth inning proved to be the game-winner in a 3-1 win over Stetson Sunday to seal the three-game series sweep.

Josh Smith, Lipscomb (Jr. - RHP - Margate, Fla. - Exercise Science) -- Smith ran his record to 3-0 for the season with a 3-1, five-hit win over Stetson Sunday as the Bisons swept Stetson. Smith sturck out 11, one less than his career high of 12 set last season in a 6-1 win against Campbell last May 16.

Casey Stuart, Mercer (Sr. - C - Warner Robins, Ga. - Communications) -- Increased his batting average over 100 points in three games vs USC Upstate, hitting .571 (8-of-14) and slugging .857 in leading Mercer to a 2-1 series victory over the Spartans. Drove in GW RBI Mercer’s 12-11 victory on Saturday.