Mid-American Conference

MAC Baseball Player of the Week
Aaron Levy, Ohio, Freshman
Cincinnati, Ohio (Princeton)
Aaron Levy put his power on display last week for the Ohio baseball team (14-12, 3-3 MAC), smashing a team-high three home runs and slugging a team-best .889. He also drove in a team-high eight runs, tied for second on the team with seven hits and ranked third on the squad with a .438 batting average. Levy smacked two home runs and tallied three RBIs in a 9-8 loss in 10 innings at Morehead State on Tuesday (March 27). He then helped the Bobcats take of three games from Northern Illinois in a Mid-American Conference series at Bob Wren Stadium over the weekend. Levy went 2-for-4 with two runs scored as Ohio took game one of a Saturday (March 31) doubleheader from the Huskies, 6-1. In the Sunday (April 1) rubber match, Levy smashed a three-run home run in the fourth inning and accounted for two hits and five RBIs total as the Bobcats topped the Huskies, 12-4, to secure their first MAC series win of the 2018 campaign.
 
MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Gerry Salisbury, Ohio, Left-Handed Pitcher  
R-Senior, Brunswick, Ohio (Brunswick)        
Salisbury put together a dominant performance on the mound for the Ohio baseball team (14-12, 3-3 MAC) in game one of a doubleheader against Mid-American Conference foe Northern Illinois last Saturday (March 31) at Bob Wren Stadium. Salisbury enjoyed best outing of his Ohio career, striking out a career-high 11 while giving up just one unearned run on four hits and no walks over seven strong innings, improving to 3-4 on the year and setting the tone for the Bobcats' five-run victory. He became the first Ohio pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts this season. Ohio went on to win the weekend conference series, 2-1, after knocking off the Huskies, 12-4, on Sunday (April 1).

Other Nominees
Randy Righter, Bowling Green, Infield (First Base)  
Senior  West Bloomfield, Michigan (Brother Rice)
Righter, a senior infielder from West Bloomfield, Michigan, had a massive week at the plate, as the Falcons went 2-2 on the week. Righter hit .533 (8-for-15) across the four games, while posting a robust slugging percentage of 1.000. In Bowling Green’s weekend series versus Eastern Michigan, the senior recorded multiple hits in all three games. Righter began the series with a 2-for-4 day that also saw him drive in a run. On Saturday, Righter completely took over the game, as he went 3-for-3 with two home runs, one double, three runs scored and two RBI. Righter hit a pair of no-doubt solo shots to left field. On Sunday, the first baseman wrapped up his week with a 3-for-4 day at the dish.
 
Zach Heeke, Central Michigan, First base     
Sophomore, Mount Pleasant, Mich. (Mount Pleasant)       
Heeke hit .428 (6 for 14) as the Chippewas went 2-2 on the week. He had two doubles among his six hits, scored five runs and drove in two and finished the week with a .571 slugging percentage.
 
Michael Brettell, Central Michigan, Pitcher  
Junior, Fonthill, Ont. (Crossley Secondary)   
Brettell pitched seven strong innings in earning the victory in Central Michigan's 23-1 win at Ball State. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven in winning his second consecutive start and improving to 3-3.
 
Justin McMurtrey, Eastern Michigan, RHP   
Senior, Redding, Calif. (Shasta)         
McMurtrey had a solid start in the series opening win over Bowling Green, March 30. The righty went the first 7.1 innings, only allowing two runs on eight hits, while striking out five batters, and earning the win. The 7.1 innings were a career-high for McMurtrey in his two-year EMU career. His efforts led to the series-opening win, and eventually the first MAC series win of the season for the Eagles. In addition, it was the ninth-straight series win for EMU over the Falcons.
 
Max Schuemann, Eastern Michigan, INF      
Junior, Portage, Mich. (Portage Northern)
Schuemann had a terrific week for the Eagles, who won the weekend series over Bowling Green. The shortstop batted .412, including seven hits, three doubles, three RBIs, and four runs scored, while only striking out once. He had two-hit days in all but one game, including a two-hit, two-RBI game in the series-opening win over BGSU, March 30. His efforts helped EMU win its first MAC series of the season, as well as its ninth-straight series win over BGSU.
 
Pavin Parks, Kent State, INF  
Junior, Uniontown, Ohio (Uniontown Lake)
Parks homered twice in a doubleheader against Western Michigan as KSU pulled off the league's only sweep this weekend. His three-run bomb off Broncos ace Jacob Piechota right broke a 1-1 sixth inning tie in the nightcap as Kent State went on to win, 6-2. He also homered in the first game with a solo blast to right center.
 
Jared Skolnicki, Kent State, LHP        
R-Senior, Pittsburgh (Keystone Oaks)           
Skolnicki had his best outing of his Kent State career on Tuesday in South Bend when he shut down the Fighting Irish into eighth inning. Skolnicki's gem helped KSU knock off its second Power Five opponent on the road this year, 4-1. He was sensational over his seven and a third innings, striking out six. The lefty picked up his second win of the campaign.
 
Hayden Senger, Miami, Catcher        
Junior  Liberty Township, Ohio          
Senger had a monster weekend for Miami as it took two out of three against Toledo at home to grab its second MAC series win in as many chances. The junior went 9-for-13 against the Rockets to post a .692 batting average on the weekend. He slugged 1.152 to go with four runs scored, four runs batted in, four doubles and one triple. His last extra base hit and RBI were the biggest as he ripped a walk-off double to left field to send Miami to a 7-6 win in the series finale on Sunday. Senger is now hitting a team-best .458 in conference play.
 
Michael Lasiewicz, Northern Illinois University, Pitcher      
Freshman, McHenry, Ill. (McHenry)  
Lasiewicz upped his season strikeout total to a team-best 37 as he fanned five batters in a quality start against Ohio University Saturday, March 31. In 7 2/3 innings, Lasiewicz scattered four hits and walked  two while not giving an earned run. He also carried a .143 opponents' batting average as he improved his overall ERA to a team-best 2.15. 
 
Ross Adolph, Toledo, CF
Junior, Findlay, Ohio (Van Buren)     
Adolph led the Rockets offensively this past week. He hit .429 (6-for-14) with five extra-base hits and nine RBIs, as well as four walks. In the conference series against Miami, Adolph hit .400 (4-for-10) and scored five runs while driving in seven. In Saturday's win, he was 2-for-4 with a home run and a triple and three RBIs. For the season, Adolph is hitting .333 with a .708 slugging percentage. He has 27 RBIs and 19 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. Entering this weekend, he was leading the MAC in home runs and slugging percentage and second in total bases.