Coker's Blackwell Named NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week

Salisbury, N.C. ---- Coker left-handed pitcher Benjamin Blackwell and Lander designated hitter Connor Droze were selected as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association Southeast Region Pitcher and Player of the Week, respectively, the organization announced Tuesday afternoon.

Blackwell, a freshman from Blythewood, S.C., picked up a pair of wins on the mound for the Cobras last week, defeating Chowan 11-3 and Emory & Henry 3-2. Blackwell threw five shutout innings against Chowan and did not surrender a single hit with eight strikeouts in his collegiate debut. He then shut out Emory & Henry in four innings of work, allowing just two hits with four strikeouts. For the week, he threw nine innings of relief allowing no runs on two hits with 12 strikeouts.

Droze put on a display in four games last week, hitting .583 with a 2.000 slugging percentage and .727 on-base percentage. The junior from Roebuck, S.C. hit two doubles, five home runs and drove in eight as Lander went 3-1. He homered and doubled with three RBIs against Coker to begin his week. He then went 3-for-3 in the series opener at Nova Southeastern, smashing two home runs with another double and three more RBIs. He went 2-for-2 in the series finale at Nova with two more home runs. For the week he scored six runs and walked six times. Droze is currently tied for the league lead in home runs, is second in slugging percentage, fourth in runs and tied for eighth in RBI.

NCBWA Southeast Region Pitcher of the Week

Feb. 6               Jake Inman, UNC Pembroke

Feb. 13             Ben Smith, Anderson

Feb. 20             Benjamin Blackwell, Coker

NCBWA Southeast Region Player of the Week

Feb. 6               Derek Wylie, Columbus State

Feb. 13             Nick Dietsch, Emmanuel

Feb. 20             Connor Droze, Lander