Monday, February 21, 2011

MACON, Ga. – On a weekend that saw the Atlantic Sun post a combined 27-11 record, the performances of Mercer’s Joe Winker and Stetson’s Lindsey Caughel stood apart as they won the first Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, the conference announced on Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Joe Winker, Mercer (OF – Sr. – Orlando, Fla. – Business)

• First A-Sun Player of the Week award this year
• Led the powerful Mercer offense that out-scored Liberty 34-16 in a 3-1 series victory
• In game three, went 5-for-6 with three home runs, five RBI and four runs scored
• In the four-game series, hit .500 with seven RBI

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Vinny Casha (C, Belmont) - Led Belmont with six hits in 11 at bats, including 4-for-6 with two outs against Illinois State
• Alex Denman (1B/OF, Campbell) - Hit .583 with seven hits that included two doubles and a home run; drove in four and scored eight times
• Peyton Hart (SS, Kennesaw State) - Hit .444 with eight RBI as KSU have swept an opening weekend series for the first time since 2005
• Paul Hoilman (1B, ETSU) - Led ETSU against Marist hitting .600; Scored three runs with a double, home run, five RBI and five walks
• Jimmy Howick (INF, Jacksonville) - In series win at UNC Wilmington batted 7-for-12 with two home runs and four RBI
• Tyler Miller (OF/DH, USC Upstate) - Opened 2011 by going 7-for-12 in three games; Against Iona, came off the bench and went 4-for-4 and scored a run
• Nick Rickles (C, Stetson) - Led Hatters to a three-game sweep of Georgia; Paced team with a .727 on-base percentage and a .750 slugging percentage while hitting .625
• Michael Smith (OF, UNF) - Led UNF with four runs scored and five hits, including two doubles as Ospreys won two of three in opening series against Charleston Southern

PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Lindsey Caughel, Stetson (SP – Jr. – Orlando, Fla. – Social Sciences)

• First A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award
• Picked up the win in Stetson's series opening win against Georgia
• Faced Michael Palazzone the Bulldogs' No. 1 starter
• Allowed just one run and struck out six over five innings

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Andrew Austin (RP, Kennesaw State) - Picked up a win, on Opening Day, and a save, in series finale, during opening weekend sweep of Ball State
• Philip Brannon (SP, USC Upstate) – Picked up a win in his first start after allowing only five hits to Iona
• Hector Cedano (SP, Campbell) - Paced the Camels to a win in his first collegiate start, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings; Fanned two and scattered six hits
• Robbie Collier (SP, UNF) - Tossed a career-high 6.1 shutout innings as he struck out five while scattering four hit against Charleston Southern
• Jon Ivie (RP, Belmont) - Recorded saves in back to back games against Illinois State; Struck out two in two innings of relief; His 13 career saves ties for sixth in Belmont history
• Adam Maxon (RP, Jacksonville) - In his first two collegiate appearances, Maxon went 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA while allowing only two hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings
• David Teasley (RP, Mercer) - Made three appearances in Mercer's series against Liberty; Picked up two wins; Allowed only two of the 16 batters he faced to each base

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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 five 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.