SOCON RELEASE

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (May 21, 2024) – Ahead of the Southern Conference Tournament beginning on Wednesday, the league office unveiled its annual award winners and All-Conference teams on Tuesday. Cameron Sisneros was named SoCon Player of the Year by the league's media members, while six other Bucs earned All-SoCon honors in Michael Harpster (Second Team, Freshman), Owen Kovacs (Second Team), Tommy Barth (Second Team), Nick Iannantone (Second Team), Jace Hyde (Freshman) and Jamie Palmese (Freshman).
 
Sisneros is the first Buccaneer to earn Player of the Year honors since 2010 when Paul Hoilman landed the same accolade from the Atlantic Sun. Sisneros is the first Buc to be named the SoCon Player of the Year since 2004 (Caleb Moore). On the field, Sisneros has put together one of the best offensive seasons in the history of ETSU baseball. The senior first baseman leads ETSU in walks (45), slugging percentage (.750), runs scored (58), RBI (78), doubles (15), home runs (21) and total bases (150). His home run (21) and RBI totals (78) are nearing the most ever by a Buc during a single season. Sisneros needs just four home runs and six more RBI to tie the school's program records in those respective categories. His 78 RBI are the fifth-most in Division I baseball this season and he has reached base successfully in all 52 of ETSU's games so far this season. Dating back to last season, Sisneros has reached base in 75 straight games.  

"That's the first I'm hearing of that" ??@cameronsisnero2 reacts to being named@SoConSports Player of the Year ??

Hear what he & @ETSU_Baseball HC Joe Pennucci had to say about the first baseman's impressive 2024 campaign ?? pic.twitter.com/o5qwT9n2iQ

— Nick Dugan (@NSDugan) May 21, 2024

 
Harpster has turned in a stellar freshman campaign for the Bucs so far in 2024. The Lynchburg, Virginia native leads ETSU's pitching staff in wins (8), starts (11), and complete games (1). His eight victories are tied for the most in Division I baseball this season by a freshman. Harpster tallied ETSU's lone complete game of the season with a seven-inning outing at Purdue on April 21 where he picked up eight strikeouts. The freshman right-hander also tossed a season-high eight innings in a win over eventual regular season champion UNC Greensboro on March 30. When Harpster has been on the mound, it usually has meant good things for the Bucs as ETSU is 11-2 when he appears in a game this season.
 
Kovacs, who is in his fifth season with ETSU, has saved his best performance for his final campaign in Johnson City. The Knoxville native leads the pitching staff with a 3.58 ERA and six saves. In addition to his work to close out games, Kovacs has given the Bucs some innings when called upon in 2024 as he has outings of 5.2 and 6.1 innings this spring. For his work this season, Kovacs was named to the NCBWA's Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List.
 
Tuesday's honor marks the third consecutive season that Barth has earned All-SoCon honors. Barth has seen time in all three outfield spots for ETSU this season. The Ohio native is batting .317 with five home runs and 27 RBI in 2024. Barth has compiled 14 multi-hit games this season and had a streak of reaching base in 26 consecutive games earlier this season. Furthermore, Barth enters postseason play ranked as the seventh-hardest hitter in the country to strike out (15.2 at-bats per strikeout).
 
Iannantone repeats as an All-SoCon Second Team honoree. The Plainfield, Illinois has been a constant at the top of ETSU's lineup in 2024 as he has hit leadoff in all 52 games and started as the team's designated hitter in 51 of the 52 contests. A .386 career hitter during his time in Johnson City, Iannantone leads the team in batting average (.384), walks (45), on-base percentage (.496), multi-hit games (25) and hits (78). He will enter tournament play with a 14-game hitting streak and a 20-game reached base streak.
 
Hyde has been one of ETSU's most reliable arms in 2024. Hyde paces all ETSU pitchers in innings pitched (65) and strikeouts (77). The freshman right-hander currently leads all SoCon pitchers in strikeouts per nine innings pitched (10.66). In seven of his 15 appearances this season, Hyde has totaled five or more strikeouts, including a 10-strikeout effort at Samford on April 12. He has pitched at least five innings in six of his appearances as well.
 
Palmese has served as ETSU's primary centerfielder in 2024. The freshman from Connecticut is hitting .285 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 46 games this season. Palmese has also brought some speed to the basepaths for the Bucs as he gone a perfect 14-for-14 on stolen base chances so far during his freshman campaign.
 
The three All-Freshman team honorees are the most for the Bucs since 2021 when they also had three in Matthew Bollenbacher, Ashton King and Hunter Loyd.
 
ETSU will open play in the SoCon Tournament on Thursday evening. The Bucs, which earned the No. 3 seed for the tournament, will face the winner of Wednesday's game between Mercer and VMI. For more information on the SoCon Tournament, visit the Tournament Central page HERE. First pitch for ETSU's game on Thursday is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN+.

For more information on Buccaneer baseball, visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the baseball tab.