DALLAS – Southern Miss secured Conference USA Co-Pitchers of the Week following the record-setting performances of seniors Hunter Stanley and Walker Powell. Florida Atlantic freshman Steven Loden collected Hitter of the Week honors after three multi-hit showings against WKU to guide his Owls into the postseason.All Conference USA weekly awards are presented by Surf and Turf Golf.

Hunter Stanley opened the Middle Tennessee series by limiting the Blue Raiders to three base runners, which included two hits and one to reach via a throwing error. Stanley, who recorded a career-high 16 strikeouts, retired the first 16 batters he faced before giving up a double that got over a little bit of the first base bag. The strikeout total tied Houston's Brad Sullivan for second in the C-USA single-game records and was one short of Memphis's Chard Harville, who recorded 17 against Cincinnati on May 2, 1997. In the game, Stanley only had one 3-ball count and that was to the second hitter of the game, who he struck out. Stanley’s strikeout total tied for the fourth best in school history with Ed Assaf (vs. Spring Hill, 4/6/68) and Chuck Shive (vs. Towson, 3/19/89).
 
Walker Powell threw the first no-hitter since the trio of Gabe Shepard, Cody Carroll and Hunter Stanley tossed one since the 2019 Conference USA Tournament in a 6-0 win over Rice. It was the second no-no in C-USA this season (Steven Casey, FIU) and the fifth solo no-hitter in conference history. It also marked the first Southern Miss complete-game no-hitter since Cliff Russum accomplished that feat against Eastern Illinois on March 13, 2004. Powell, a senior from Fayetteville, Ark., allowed just a leadoff walk to start the second and stranded that runner at second base. His 12 strikeouts established a career high for Powell, coming on the team’s senior day. Powell is the Division I career active leader in victories with 28. He also ranks No. 3 on the school’s career charts for wins, trailing only Todd McInnis (33) and Darrell Lindsey (29).
 
Steven Loden continues to swing the hottest bat on the Owls, with a .529 average, three multi-hit showings, and a hit in every game in a road series win over WKU to clinch FAU’s postseason berth. The second baseman reached twice in the series opening win, with a single and a walk, and in the Friday nightcap, hit a go-ahead three-run bomb as part of a 3-for-4 game. He added two more multi-hit games in a Saturday doubleheader sweep, going 2-for-5 in the opener, and 3-for-5 with a run scored in the finale. He was on base at a clip of .556 and slugged .706 for an OPS of 1.262, and played a flawless second base in 20 chances, including multiple diving plays, and as part of four Owl double plays. Further, over the last four weekends, he has raised his season average from .167 to, now, .391, going 29-for-57 as the Owls have gone 11-4 since he reclaimed the starting 2B job.

2021 WINNERS:
Pitcher of the Week –Feb. 23 – Hunter Stanley, RHP, Southern Miss; Mar. 1 – Zach Keenan, RHP, Middle Tennessee; Mar. 8 – Shane Daughety, RHP, UTSA; Mar. 15 – Jarett Whorff, RHP, Louisiana Tech; Mar. 22 - Jonathan Fincher, LHP, Louisiana Tech and Walker Powell, RHP, Southern Miss; Mar. 29 – Riley Davis, RHP, UAB; April 7 - Hunter Gregory, RHP, Old Dominion; April 12 – Jonathan Fincher, Louisiana Tech; April 19 - Steven Casey, RHP, FIU; April 26 - Ben Ethridge, RHP, Southern Miss; May 3 - Ryne Moore, RHP, Old Dominion; May 19 - Hunter Stanley, RHP, Southern Miss & Walker Powell, RHP, Southern Miss. 

Hitter of the Week –Feb. 23 – Nolan Schanuel, 1B, Florida Atlantic; Mar. 1 – David McCabe, 1B, Charlotte; Mar. 8 – Manny Garcia, OF, Louisiana Tech and Carter Trice, 2B, Old Dominion; Mar. 15 – Ray Zuberer III, OF, WKU; Mar. 22 – Nick Thornquist, C, UTSA; Mar. 29 – Steele Netterville, OF, Louisiana Tech; April 7– Carter Trice, 2B, Old Dominion; April 12 – Jackson Gray, WKU; April 19 - Dominic Pilolli, OF, CLT; April 26 - Austin Knight, 3B, Charlotte; May 3 - Justin Carlin, IF/OF, WKU; May 10 - Steven Loden, 2B, Florida Atlantic.