USC pitcher Braden Webb receives national, SEC honor

South Carolina pitcher Braden Webb has been named a Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week and the SEC Freshman of the Week after his dominant performance Friday at Ole Miss.

The right-hander struck out a career-high 14 batters in USC’s 9-5 win, retiring 17 consecutive hitters at one point.

Webb is now 5-1 on the year with a 2.10 ERA. He has 42 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings, and batters are hitting just .148 against him.

Webb has helped USC get off to a 23-2 start. The Gamecocks are 6-0 in SEC play for the first time in school history.

No. 5 South Carolina hosts College of Charleston on Tuesday before traveling to No. 3 Vanderbilt for a three-game series that begins Thursday.