MACON, Ga. – After leading the Mercer baseball team to a road win over No. 23 Mississippi State this past weekend, sophomore Brandon Barker has been named the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week as announced by the conference office this afternoon.

The weekly honor is the first of Barker's career and the second A-Sun honor picked up by a Mercer player this season, after sophomore Nick Backlund was named A-Sun Player of the Week on February 27.

Barker put together his best start of the season in Starkville, holding the Bulldogs to just one earned run on six hits over eight innings pitched to lead the Bears to a 6-1 victory.

The Woodstock, Ga. native has had a breakout sophomore season thus far for the Orange and Black, compiling a 2-0 record to go along with a 2.39 ERA over a team-high 26.1 innings pitched.

Barker and the rest of the Bears finally return home, after over two weeks on the road, on March 14 when it takes on in-state rival Georgia State. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Claude Smith Field.