Week 12 SEC Awards

quote:

---

Player of the Week

Cole Messina • South Carolina

South Carolina’s Cole Messina went 9-for-14 with seven runs scored, two doubles, a triple, three home runs, two stolen bases, 10 RBI and an SEC-best 22 total bases in four games last week. Messina also walked three times for a .722 on-base percentage. He had five RBI in Friday night’s 10-2 win over Missouri and was 2-for-3 with three RBI in the East Tennessee State win. Messina ended the weekend with a 3-for-5 game with a double and a home run in the come-from-behind 9-4 victory to help the Gamecocks win the series at Missouri.

Pitcher of the Week

Leighton Finley • Georgia

Georgia’s Leighton Finley beat No. 13 Vanderbilt with six shutout innings and 11 strikeouts, both career highs. He allowed just three singles and only two runners reached scoring position in the combined 10-0 shutout. Finley set the tone as the Friday night starter as the No. 18 Bulldogs would go on to sweep No. 13 Vanderbilt for first time since 2003.

Freshman of the Week

Steven Milam • LSU

LSU’s Steven Milam was the Tigers’ leading hitter in the series victory versus top-ranked Texas A&M, batting .444 (4-for-9) with two doubles, one RBI, two runs, two walks and a .545 on-base percentage. He was 2-for-2 in the Game 1 win over the Aggies and provided a crucial RBI single in a four-run sixth inning that erased a 3-2 Texas A&M lead. Milam doubled and later scored as part of a two-run rally in the eighth inning of Game 2, as LSU stretched a 4-3 lead to 6-3 in the eventual 6-4 victory. He hit .400 for the entire week, which also included a win over Grambling State on Tuesday night.

---