SoCon Announces Postseason Awards

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – UNC Greensboro (UNCG) baseball senior Caleb Cozart was named as The Southern Conference (SoCon) Player of the Year, while Interim Head Coach Cody Ellis earned SoCon Coach of the Year, as announced by the conference on Tuesday.

Cozart is UNCG's third SoCon Player of the Year, as Hogan Windish earned the honor in 2022 and Andrew Moritz was tabbed Player of the Year in 2018. Ellis is receives the Spartans' fourth SoCon Coach of the Year award, as Link Jarrett earned it in 2018 and 2016 while Mike Gaski was voted in 1998. 

Cozart's selection highlights eight student-athletes who earned All-SoCon Coaches' or SoCon Sports Media Association (SCSMA) recognition. In addition to Cozart, Grant Aycock, Rob Ready, and Hunter Shuey earned a spot on the first teams. Additionally, Aidan Brewer, Cozart, Julien Peissel, Ready, Shuey, and Mitchell Smith appear on the second teams, while Noah Chapman was selected to the All-Freshman Team.

Ellis earns his first SoCon Coach of the Year honor in his first season at the helm of the program as the interim head coach and was also voted by the media as Coach of the Year. After being voted to finish sixth in the SoCon Preseason Poll, Ellis has led the Spartans to a 33-19 record this season and 15-6 conference record for their third SoCon regular season title. Ellis also guided the Spartans to two ranked wins this season, including the programs' second victory over a No. 1 team defeating Wake Forest 4-3 on February 20 at the UNCG Baseball Stadium. UNCG also crushed then-ranked No. 13 NC State 18-3 on March 12 in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

The Spartans are entering the tournament as the top seed for the first time since 2018. The last time the Spartans won the tournament was in 2022, which marked their second SoCon Tournament title. UNCG leads the SoCon in ERA (5.19), fewest runs allowed (297) and lowest opponent batting average (.267). The Spartans won eight of their last 11 regular-season contests and 10 of their final 12 conference games.

Caleb Cozart
SoCon Coaches' Player of the Year
All-SoCon Coaches' first team (DH)
All-SoCon Media first team (DH)
All-SoCon Coaches' second team (1B)
All-SoCon Media second team (1B)
Senior | RHP/IF | High Point, N.C.

• 2024 Dick Howser Trophy Semifinalist
• Two-time SoCon Player of the Week (Feb. 19 & April 29)
• Perfect Game Co-Player of the Week (Feb. 20)
• Leads the SoCon and is 17th in the country with 22 home runs
• Ranked 14th in the nation with 72 RBI

Grant Aycock
All-SoCon Media first team (RP)
Sophomore | IF/RHP | Greensboro, N.C.

• Leads the team with a 3.58 ERA
• Owns a 3-0 record in 16 relief appearances this season
• Has recorded two saves on the season
• Posted 37 strikeouts in 32.2 innings pitched
• Holding opponents to a .202 batting average

Rob Ready
All-SoCon Coaches' first team (SP)
All-SoCon Media second team (SP)
Junior | RHP | Bridgeton, N.J.

• Was named SoCon Pitcher of the Week on March 25
• Owns a 3.95 ERA, which is among the best on UNCG's staff
• Has posted a 3-1 record in 12 appearances, which were all starts
• Has recorded 41 strikeouts and just 22 walks in 66 innings pitched
• Has only allowed 38 runs (29 earned)
• Was named to the Preseason All-SoCon second team

Hunter Shuey
All-SoCon Coaches' first team (SP)
All-SoCon Media first team (SP)
All-SoCon Coaches' second team (RP)
All-SoCon Media second team (RP)
Redshirt Sophomore | RHP | Hamburg, Pa.

• Leads UNCG starters with a 3.93 ERA
• Paces the team in wins with a 6-1 record on the season
• Owns 38 strikeouts this season in 50.1 innings pitched
• Has only allowed 27 runs (22 earned)
• Holds opponents to a .245 batting average

Aidan Brewer
All-SoCon Coaches' second team (SS)
All-SoCon Media second team (SS)
Graduate Student | IF | Dexter, Mich.

• Named to Brooks Wallace Award Watch List (Top 100 Shortstops)
• Ranks second on the Spartans batting .318 (64-for-201)
• Second on the team in doubles (12), home runs (10), and total bases (110)
• Stands second on the team in runs (55) and slugging percentage (.547)
• Third on the Spartans with 12 stolen bases on 15 attempts

Julien Peissel
All-SoCon Coaches' second team (SP)
All-SoCon Media second team (SP)
Sophomore | RHP | Hickory, N.C.

• Two-time SoCon Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 26 & May 20)
• Pitched UNCG to a 4-3 win over then-ranked No. 1 Wake Forest (Feb. 20)
• Paces the Spartans with 13 starts and 67.1 innings pitched
• Leads UNCG with 57 strikeouts while owning a 1.47 WHIP
• Holding opponents to a .260 batting average

Mitchell Smith
All-SoCon Coaches' second team (C)
Redshirt Senior | C | Pickerington, Ohio

• Leads the Spartans with 16 doubles this season
• Successful on eight of nine stolen base attempts so far
• Ranks second on the team with 33 walks
• Stands fourth on the team with 48 hits
• Sits fourth on the Spartans with 33 RBI

Noah Chapman
All-SoCon freshman team (RP)
Freshman | LHP | Summerville, S.C.

• Owns a 3-3 record in 18 appearances and four starts
• Holding opponents to a .238 batting average
• Has recorded 36 strikeouts on the season
• Boasts a 1.48 WHIP for the season
• Earned first career save on Feb. 25 vs. Binghamton

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The Spartans earned the top seed for the SoCon Tournament in Greenville, S.C., and will play their first game on Friday, May 24 at 9 a.m. against a SoCon foe. The opponent will be determined by outcomes during the first two days of the tournament on Wednesday and Thursday.
 

2024 Coaches' All-SoCon Teams Player of the Year – Caleb Cozart, Sr., 1B/DH, UNCG Pitcher of the Year – Michael Ross, Sr., RHP, Samford Freshman of the Year – Daniel Jackson, Fr., C, Wofford Coach of the Year – Cody Ellis, UNCG	2024 SCSMA All-SoCon Teams (Media Vote) Player of the Year – Cameron Sisneros, Sr., 1B, ETSU Pitcher of the Year – Michael Ross, Sr., SP, Samford  Freshman of the Year – Daniel Jackson, Fr., C, Wofford Coach of the Year – Cody Ellis, UNCG
First Team SP – Colton Cosper, Jr., Mercer   SP – Rob Ready, Jr., UNCG   SP – Hunter Shuey, So., UNCG  SP – Michael Ross, Sr., Samford  SP – Zac Cowan, So., Wofford   RP – Carson Lore, Jr., Samford  RP – Jonathan Todd, Sr., Western Carolina  C – Justin Starke, Sr., VMI  1B – Cameron Sisneros, Sr., ETSU  2B – John Anderson, Sr., Samford  SS – Garrett Howe, Sr., Samford  3B – Dixon Black, Sr., Wofford  OF – Ty Dalley, So., Mercer  OF – Nate Stocum, Sr., Western Carolina  OF – Marshall Toole, Jr., Wofford  DH – Caleb Cozart, Sr., UNCG	First Team SP – Colton Cosper, Jr., Mercer  SP – Hunter Shuey, So., UNCG  SP – Michael Ross, Sr., Samford  SP – Zac Cowan, So., Wofford  RP – Grant Aycock, So., UNCG  RP – Carson Lore, Jr., Samford  C – Justin Starke, Sr., VMI  1B – Cameron Sisneros, Sr., ETSU  2B – John Anderson, Sr., Samford  SS – Garrett Howe, Sr., Samford  3B – Dixon Black, Sr., Wofford  OF – Ty Dalley, So., Mercer  OF – Nate Stocum, Sr., Western Carolina  OF – Marshall Toole, Jr., Wofford  DH – Caleb Cozart, Sr., UNCG
Second Team SP – Michael Harpster, Fr., ETSU  SP – Julien Peissel, So., UNCG  SP – Will Riley, Jr., VMI  SP – Dante Visconti, Sr., Western Carolina   RP – Owen Kovacs, Sr., ETSU   RP – Hunter Shuey, So., UNCG  C – Mitchell Smith, Sr., UNCG  C – Daniel Jackson, Fr., Wofford  1B – Caleb Cozart, Sr., UNCG  2B – Zach Ketterman, Sr., Western Carolina  SS – Aidan Brewer, Gr., UNCG  3B – Garrett Staton, Jr., Samford  OF – Tommy Barth, Jr., ETSU  OF – Josh Rodriguez, Sr., Samford  OF – Trey Morgan, R-Sr., VMI  DH – Nick Iannantone, Sr., ETSU	Second Team SP – Michael Harpster, Fr., ETSU  SP – Rob Ready, Jr., UNCG  SP – Julien Peissel, So., UNCG  RP – Luke Kissenberth, Sr., The Citadel  RP – Owen Kovacs, Sr., ETSU  RP – Hunter Shuey, So., UNCG  RP – Jonathan Todd, Sr., Western Carolina  RP – Dusty Revis, So., Western Carolina  RP – Mike Eggert, Sr., Wofford  C – Daniel Jackson, Fr., Wofford  1B – Caleb Cozart, Sr., UNCG  2B – Zach Ketterman, Sr., Western Carolina  SS – Aidan Brewer, Gr., UNCG  3B – Garrett Staton, Jr., Samford  OF – Tommy Barth, Jr., ETSU  OF – Josh Rodriguez, Sr., Samford  OF – Trey Morgan, Sr., VMI  DH – Nick Iannantone, Sr., ETSU
All-Freshman Team Garrett Fulmer, The Citadel  Michael Harpster, ETSU  Jace Hyde, ETSU  Jamie Palmese, ETSU  Noah Chapman, UNCG                Jackson Harris, Samford  Angelo Prieto, Samford  Davis Budd, Western Carolina  Tyler Bak, Wofford  Daniel Jackson, Wofford   Kenny Michaels, Wofford  Camden Wicker, Wofford