Wingate’s Josh Benton, Catawba’s Blake Ketner Named Baseball Players Of The Week

ROCK HILL, S.C. - Wingate University designated hitter Josh Benton and Catawba College's starting pitcher Blake Ketner have been named the South Atlantic Conference's Player and Pitcher of the Week, announced by league officials on Monday afternoon.

Benton batted .538 (7-for-13) for the week as the Bulldogs earned a three-game sweep over No. 30 Lincoln Memorial University. For the week, the senior tallied one double, two homeruns and drove in 10 runs to lead Wingate. In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Benton was two-for-four with two home runs and six RBI. In addition, Benton scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the tenth inning. In Sunday's single game, Benton recorded four hits in five at-bats, a double and three RBI in the Wingate 8-7 victory. On the year, the preseason All-SAC honoree is batting .423 with five home runs, 24 RBI, 16 runs scored and a .704 slugging percentage.

Josh Benton

Blake Ketner

Ketner went 1-0 for the week, picking up a victory against SAC opponent Presbyterian College. The sophomore allowed just two hits over seven innings pitched as the Indians went on to the 9-1 victory. Ketner surrendered an unearned run in the first inning and kept the Blue Hose at bay by not allowing another run during the contest. Presbyterian was only able to muster four balls out of the infield (two hits, two fly outs) on the Davidson, N.C. native.

The SAC Player and Pitcher of the Week are voted on by the league's sports information directors.