Cameron Hyder takes first ever C2C player of the week

SALISBURY, Md.– After piloting his team to several historic performances at the plate, outfielder Cameron Hyder of the fourth-ranked Salisbury University baseball team was named Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) Player of the Week, announced by the league office on Monday.

Hyder, a senior from Laurel, Md., provided a charge out of the leadoff slot for a Sea Gull offense that scored 67 runs over their four wins for the week, slashing .600/.619/1.067 with two home runs, one double, six runs and 10 RBIs. Hyder saved his best stuff for the finale of a Sunday doubleheader against Haverford; he smashed a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning, then in the eighth he put SU back on top to stay with a two-run single.

Through 20 games this season, Hyder is batting .422 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs, 21 RBIs, 22 runs scored, six stolen bases and an 1.109 OPS. His 35 total hits currently rank 30th in NCAA Division III.

Hyder is approaching several Salisbury baseball career records. He recently moved into third in program history with 242 hits, 10 away from tying the record (252) established by Pete Grasso ’17; with 166 games played, he stands nine shy of the record (175) set by Mike Celenza ’10. Hyder is also within striking distance of the SU marks for at-bats (664, 26 away) and runs scored (180, 19 away). He already ranks first in career sacrifice bunts (37) and is tied for the most triples (13).

This is the first career C2C weekly honor for Hyder and the fourth C2C nod for SU this season. Jimmy Adkins was named Pitcher of the Week on March 6, while Kavi Caster and Jackson Balzan took home Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, on Feb. 27.

Thanks in large part to Hyder’s hitting prowess, Salisbury picked up wins over Virginia Wesleyan, Washington (Md.) and Haverford twice to improve to 17-3 on the season. The Sea Gulls’ 35-6 win at Washington on Thursday marked their most runs scored in a single game in nine years. SU currently leads the nation in team slugging percentage (.591) and ranks second nationally in home runs (34) and third in runs per game (11.2).

Hyder and the rest of the Sea Gulls return to action on Tuesday with a home contest against McDaniel. First pitch from Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium is slated for 3 p.m.