March 19, 2013

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Sophomore Kyle Koch from the men’s tennis team and senior left-handed pitcher Nolan Belcher from the baseball team have been named Co-AgSouth Athletes of the Week.

Koch won all four of the matches in which he participated last week on the road against the SEC’s elite teams, including three against ranked opponents. Both doubles victories (playing in No. 2 spot in lineup) came against ranked opponents, the first for the Koch/Menzies duo this season. He scored his first career win over a ranked singles player (playing in No. 5 spot in lineup) with a comeback victory over Hernus Pieters of Georgia.

Belcher has pitched 26.1 consecutive scoreless innings on the mound for the Gamecocks. Belcher worked 8.1 scoreless innings in the 2-0 victory vs. Missouri on Saturday afternoon. He did not allow a runner to reach second base in the entire contest. Belcher limited the Tigers to just five hits and struck out six batters while walking none. He has not allowed a walk since the Liberty game on opening weekend, a span of 31.1 innings. For the season, Belcher is 4-1 with a 1.25 ERA in 36.0 innings pitched. He has 36 strikeouts to just one walk on the year. Opponents are hitting .206 against him.