MACON, Ga. – Mercer senior outfielder Joe Winker had a monster weekend at the dish for the Bears and was rewarded by being named the Atlantic Sun Player of the Week as announced by the conference office this afternoon.

The player of the week award is the first handed out by the A-Sun Conference this season and the first of Winker’s career in the Orange and Black.

Winker’s opening weekend totals were staggering as the Orlando, Fla. native finished with a .500 (6-12) batting average, three home runs, seven RBI and four runs scored.

The Mercer offense as a whole batted .319 and scored 34 runs in winning three-out-of-four against Liberty this past weekend.

Winker was the main reason why after his outburst in game three of the series on Saturday afternoon. Winker helped the Bears to a 17-5 victory by going five-for-six in the contest with three home runs and five RBI.

Mercer returns to action on Tuesday, February 22, at 4 p.m. when it welcomes in-state rival Georgia State to Claude Smith Field.