NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay redshirt freshman infielder Cole Johnson had a strong week at the plate, leading to his selection Tuesday as the Tennessee Sports Writers Association’s College Baseball Player of the Week.
The Austin, Texas, product batted .643 as he had nine hits with a double and two home runs, bagging an RBI in all four games. He went 2-for-3 against No. 23 Ole Miss, slamming a two-run go-ahead round-tripper in the fourth inning. He also went 3-for-4 in the finale against Bellarmine, missing a triple from completing the cycle.
He also had four RBI and two stolen bases in the game. Johnson finished the week with 10 RBI and 16 total bases for a 1.143 slugging percentage.
On the hill, Tennessee Tech senior southpaw Jared Herzog was named the Pitcher of the Week, throwing the Golden Eagles’ first complete game of the season in a 7-1 victory over Southeast Missouri. The Ottawa, Ill., product held SEMO to one run on seven hits and four walks. He recorded four strikeouts in his second victory of the season.
SOFTBALL: Middle Tennessee freshman outfielder Macie Harter earned Player of the Week honors as she hit .556, going 5-for-9 in the Blue Raiders’ sweep over UTEP. She had two extra-base hits with five RBI. The Ashland City, Tenn., native had two multi-hit games as she went 2-for-3 in the opener with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly.
She then went 2-for-4 in game two with an RBI triple – setting the Blue Raider program record for single-season triples with six. Harter also had a two-run single in the series finale.
In the circle, Chattanooga junior pitcher Taylor Long claimed the Pitcher of the Week honor after closing out the Southern Conference slate with a regular-season title. The Calhoun, Ga., native came on in relief in the finale versus East Tennessee State during the bottom of the fifth to pitch out of a bases-loaded jam by striking out three straight.
Long went on to strike out eight of the next nine batters to earn the win. For the week, she struck out 18 over 12 1/3 innings in three appearances to record a 0.57 ERA.
BASEBALL
Feb. 18 | Player: Blake Pou (Sewanee); Pitcher: Ryan Higgins (Carson-Newman)
Feb. 25 | Player: Eston Snider (Middle Tennessee); Pitcher: Liam Doyle (Tennessee)
March 4 | Player: Gavin Kilen (Tennessee); Pitcher: Jake Poindexter (Lipscomb)
March 11 | Player: Levi Clark (Tennessee); Pitcher: Drew Horn (Middle Tennessee)
March 18 | Player: Joey Parliament (Trevecca Nazarene); Pitcher: Marcus Phillips (Tennessee)
March 25 | Player: Hunter Ensley (Tennessee); Pitcher: Taj Donald (Sewanee)
April 1 | Player: Cameron Nickens (Austin Peay); Pitcher: Kolton Casson (Carson-Newman)
April 8 | Player: Carson Chavies (Union); Pitcher: Liam Doyle (Tennessee)
April 15 | Player: Eddie Garza (Tennessee Tech); Pitcher: Lyndon Glidewell (Austin Peay)
April 22 | Player: Cade Moore (Trevecca Nazarene); Pitcher: Jacob Weaver (Austin Peay)
April 29 | Player: Cade Moore (Trevecca Nazarene); Pitcher: Zane Brown (Belmont)
May 6 | Player: Cole Johnson (Austin Peay); Pitcher: Jared Herzog (Tennessee Tech)
SOFTBALL
Feb. 11 | Player: Danielle Jason (Tusculum); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
Feb. 18 | Player: Abbie Buckner (Sewanee); Pitcher: Reagen Huskey (Sewanee)
Feb. 25 | Player: Brianna Asmondy (Trevecca): Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
March 4 | Player: Hayden Dye (Carson-Newman); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
March 11 | Player: Presley Williamson (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
March 18 | Player: Morgan Jennings (Union University); Pitcher: Ashlan Sensing (Trevecca Nazarene)
March 25 | Player: Abbee Klinefelter (Tennessee Tech); Pitcher: Maya Johnson (Belmont)
April 1 | Player: Alyssa Suits (King University); Pitcher: Taylor Long (Chattanooga)
April 8 | Player: Kailey Snell (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 15 | Player: Kailey Snell (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 22 | Player: Olivia Lipari (Chattanooga); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
April 29 | Player: Morgan Jennings (Union); Pitcher: Peja Goold (Chattanooga)
May 6 | Player: Macie Harter (Middle Tennessee); Pitcher: Taylor Long (Chattanooga)