Baseball Player of the Week: Matthew McDade, Columbus State
McDade hit .500 as the Cougars opened the season with a three-game sweep at West Alabama. The senior second baseman went 6-for-12 at the plate with two home runs, 11 RBIs and a 1.000 slugging percentage. He went 3-for-4 in the second game with two home runs, including a grand slam, and eight RBIs. He went 2-for-5 in the third game with another two RBIs. He drew two walks on the weekend for a .571 on-base percentage and struck out only once. After the opening week, he leads the PBC in RBIs and is tied for the league lead in home runs.
Baseball Pitcher of the Week: Jacob Ryan, Georgia College & State University
Ryan pitched seven shutout innings against #7 Tampa in his first action of the season. The junior righty from Cumming, Ga., held the Spartans to four hits and one walk while striking out three. He left the game after seven scoreless and got a no decision after Tampa won in 11 innings 2-1. He held batters to a .174 average. Ryan was one of nine pitchers to not allow an earned run over opening weekend, but the only to pitch seven innings; he leads the PBC in innings pitched and is tied for the league lead in ERA.
Baseball Freshman of the Week: Jace Bowen, North Georgia
Bowen hit .538 in the first three games of his collegiate career with six RBIs. The freshman third baseman from Clermont, Ga., went 3-for-4 in the opener against Mars Hill with an RBI. He drove in a pair of runs in game two and went 3-for-5 in the third with three RBIs and a double. He also drew four walks for a .706 on-base percentage, scored five runs, stole a base and had no errors at third in five chances. He is currently second in the PBC in batting average and on-base percentage, tied for the league lead in hits and tied for second in RBIs.