Sowers Named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week 2/25/02

Vanderbilt freshman left-hander Jeremy Sowers was named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Week announced Monday by the league office.

A product of Louisville's Ballard High School, Sowers made his collegiate debut Sunday at Louisville, striking out 10 Cardinals, scattering four hits - all singles - and allowing only one earned run. Vanderbilt held off Louisville in the late innings to win 6-5. His 10 strike outs were a Commodore season-high and the most by a Vanderbilt pitcher since current senior right-hander Steven Faulkner struck out 13 Ole Miss batters April 29, 2001.

Only four Commodore pitchers have earned the award since the conference started honoring both a position player and pitcher in 1987. Sowers is the first Vanderbilt pitcher to garner recognition since Phillip Haigler earned the award for the week of April 29, 1996. Mike McLochlin (April 24, 1989) and Scott Newell (April 13, 1992) were Vanderbilt's first recipients.

"He had a great outing considering it was the first time he took the mound at the college level," head coach Roy Mewbourne said. "It was a pressure situation with him pitching in his hometown against his hometown's university. He handled everything well and gave us a chance to win the ball game."

Sowers was a first-round draft pick (19th pick overall) of the Cincinnati Reds in the 2001 Major League Draft but decided instead to attend Vanderbilt and play collegiate baseball.