Baseball's Karsten Whitson Named Co-SEC Freshman of the Week
Monday, April 25, 2011 | Baseball
University of Florida right-hander Karsten Whitson (Chipley, Fla.) was chosen as the Southeastern Conference Co-Freshman of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday afternoon. He shared the league's weekly honor with Vanderbilt designated hitter Conrad Gregor.
The fourth-ranked Gators (31-10/14-4 SEC) handled Alabama by scores of 7-0, 9-2 and 2-1 and are tied atop the league and Eastern Division standings with No. 2 Vanderbilt (35-5) and No. 3 South Carolina (31-8).
On Easter Sunday, Whitson worked a career-high 6.2 innings and earned the victory to complete the sweep of the Crimson Tide. He held the visitors without a hit until one down in the fifth inning and carried a shutout into the seventh frame. The righty registered seven strikeouts, his most in an SEC outing, and did not permit any walks. Whitson gave up three hits and one run in UF's one -run triumph that was preserved on a game-ending 4-6-3 double play that was induced by junior left-hander Nick Maronde (Lexington, Ky.).
Whitson raised his mark to 5-0 in his rookie campaign and has compiled a 2.25 earned run average, with a team-high 52 strikeouts in 52 innings. He is 2-0 in league games with a 2.27 ERA and has posted wins over Tennessee and Alabama.
South Carolina sophomore first baseman Christian Walker was tabbed as the SEC Player of the Week, while Kentucky junior right-hander Alex Meyer was the league's Pitcher of the Week.
The Gators host Western Division tri-leader Ole Miss (24-17/9-9 SEC) for three games starting on Friday night at McKethan Stadium. All three contests (7 p.m. both Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. on Sunday) will be carried on GatorVision Online.
