Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina junior right-hander
Mason Snyder was today named the Southern Conference Pitcher of the Week for his performances last week, including games played March 31 through April 5. Snyder did not allow a run through three relief appearances last week in helping guide the Catamounts to a series win over Big South foe Winthrop.
Snyder collects his second weekly award from the league office, first recognized back on March 9. He is the second SoCon pitcher with multiple awards, joining ETSU's Michael Harpster, who claimed the honor on Feb. 23 and March 30.
It is the fourth weekly plaudit by a Catamount this season, the third for the WCU pitching staff. In addition to Snyder's two honors, RHP
Carter Burnette was recognized on March 16, and catcher
Noah Quarless earned Player of the Week plaudits following opening weekend on Feb. 16.
Selections are made by the conference office from nominations submitted by the media relations or communications staff of each member school.
Snyder made three relief appearances last week, collecting a pair of saves over 4.1 innings of work. He scattered two singles and worked around a pair of walks with four strikeouts, limiting opponents to a .133 batting average against. On the season, Snyder boasts a 3-0 record with a 1.20 ERA and two saves in 13 appearances.
A product of Ocilla, Ga., Snyder tossed an inning of hitless, scoreless relief with a strikeout against Presbyterian in the midweek. He then earned the three-inning save against Winthrop in Thursday's 15-7 victory over the Big South Conference's No. 3 preseason pick, working around a pair of walks and two singles with three strikeouts in scoreless relief.
Snyder closed the series-clinching victory on Saturday, needing just two pitches to secure WCU's victory, earning the save as he stranded the game-tying runner at third base to squelch the Eagles' late rally in the 7-6 victory.
Western Carolina (20-13) opens a huge five-game homestand this week at Childress Field / Hennon Stadium, beginning on Tuesday, April 7. WCU hosts USC Upstate at 5 p.m. in the back end of a nonconference home-and-home before welcoming SoCon preseason favorite Mercer to Cullowhee this weekend, April 10-12. The weekend series also features WCU's annual Football Spring Game on Saturday (Noon), before the 3 p.m. start of game two of the series on the diamond.
The five-game homestand closes next Tuesday, April 14, as the Catamounts host archrival Appalachian State, looking for the two-game, regular-season series sweep of the Mountaineers.
Tuesday's game will be broadcast on the Catamount Sports Network, with live streaming audio, as well as live stats, available online at CatamountSports.com. Both the weekend series against the Bears and next Tuesday's meeting with App are slated to be broadcast on ESPN+ (
paid subscription required).
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