Feb. 29, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina sophomore catcher John Jones earned National Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball after putting together arguably one of the greatest weekends at the plate in school history. Jones reached base in all 14 plate appearances vs. Penn State batting 1.000 (8-for-8) with six walks for an OBP of 1.000 as well.

Jones went 4-for-4 with a homer and four RBI in a 7-1 series-opening win vs. the Nittany Lions. He followed that up with a grand slam and tying a single-game school record with four walks in Saturday’s 16-5 victory vs. Penn State. In the series finale, Jones went 3-for-3 including a two-run single and a walk in the 4-2 win to sweep the series vs. Penn State. Jones’ slugging percentage for the weekend was 1.750 also.

In records going back to 1997, Jones is the only Gamecock in school history to start three games in a series and put up a 1.000 OBP, besting the previous mark of .875 set by Christian Walker in 2011 at Mississippi State as well as Walker’s .909 batting average (10-for-11). Jones’ six walks tied for the most by a Gamecock in a series since Scott Wingo’s six walks vs. Brown in 2010. Jones’ 10 RBI are the most by a Gamecock in a series since LB Dantzler drove in 10 vs. Albany vs. 2013. Jones’ 1.750 slugging percentage is the best in a series since Steven Neff’s 2.000 slugging mark vs. Arkansas in 2011.

For the season, Jones is hitting .593 (16-for-27) with a double, three homers, 11 runs scored, 19 RBI, a .694 on-base percentage and a .963 slugging mark. Jones leads the SEC in batting average, slugging, on-base percentage and runs batted in. Jones has five multi-hit games and six-multi-RBI games this season. Jones has driven in 11 of his 19 runs with two outs.

South Carolina is ranked No. 13 in this week’s D1Baseball poll and moved into Collegiate Baseball’s Top 30 as well this week with a No. 18 ranking.