SoCon baseball player, pitcher of the week announced

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Western Carolina outfielder Brayden Corn and Samford relief pitcher Josh Leerssen have been named the Southern Conference player and pitcher of the week presented by Holston Gases, respectively, for all competition from March 17-23. The awards are selected by the league office.

Corn hit .533 this week, going 8-for-15 over four games, including a midweek 4-2 win over Presbyterian, and the SoCon opening series against VMI. The Hendersonville, North Carolina, native went 2-for-4 with an RBI against the Blue Hose. In game one of the weekend series, Corn hit a home run, driving in two runs during a 7-2 Catamount victory. On Saturday, March 22, the outfielder hit another home run and logged a single with one RBI. In the final game of the series, the junior went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a walk to reach base four times. In the field, Corn tallied nine putouts.

Western Carolina (11-13, 1-2 SoCon) will travel to UNC Asheville for a mid-week matchup on Tuesday, March 25. The Catamounts will then then travel to Mercer for a weekend series starting on Friday, March 28.

Leerssen made two appearances in relief last week for the Bulldogs, earning one win. On Tuesday, March 18, the graduate student pitched two innings with six strikeouts, allowing one hit in a 6-4 setback against Jacksonville State. On Sunday, in a 13-7 victory over ETSU, the Sandy Springs, Georgia, product pitched five innings and struck out nine to earn the win. For the week, Leerssen pitched seven innings with 15 strikeouts.

Samford (13-11, 1-2 SoCon) will travel to Mississippi State for a Tuesday matchup, then host Creighton for a weekend series beginning Friday.

Also nominated for player of the week: Cody Miller (ETSU), Bradley Frye (Mercer), Jeremy Wolf (UNCG), Parker McDonald (Samford), Cole Raile (VMI), Niko Brini (Wofford)

Also nominated for pitcher of the week: Carter Fink (ETSU), Jeb Johnson (Mercer), Sam Murchison (UNCG), Andrew Jones (VMI), Branton Little (Wofford), and Mason Holton (Western Carolina)

2025 SoCon Players of the Week
Feb. 17 Ryan Wynn, So., SS, Wofford
Feb. 24 Bredley Frye, Sr., SS, Mercer
March 3 Mason Holton, Sr., INF, Western Carolina
March 10 JD Yakubinis, R-Sr., C, ETSU
March 17 Cade Carr, So., C, Samford
March 24 Brayden Corn, Jr., OF, Western Carolina

2025 SoCon Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 17 Jay Miller, Jr., RHP, UNCG
Feb. 24 Caden Plummer, Sr., RHP, VMI
March 3 Colton Cosper, Sr., LHP, Mercer
March 10 Brandon Langley, Jr., RHP, Western Carolina
March 17 Champ Davis, Jr., RHP, Wofford
March 24 Josh Leerssen, Gr., RHP, Samford