CMU's Crum, NIU's Thomas Named Players of the Week
MAC Player of the Week
Jacob Crum, Central Michigan, OF
Senior St. Johns, Mich. (St. Johns)
Central Michigan senior outfielder Jacob Crum was an offensive juggernaut this past weekend as he helped propel the Chippewas to a 4-0 finish at the Cardinal Classic at Lamar. The St. Johns, Mich., native finished the weekend slashing at a .389 clip with seven hits, seven runs and 10 RBI. In Saturday's 12-3 victory over Prairie View, Crum finished 3-of-5 at the dish including a first inning grand slam to fuel a 5 RBI day. In Sunday's 10-6 victory of the the host Cardinals, Crum added 3 more RBI's on the strength of a three-run homer in the second inning.
MAC Pitcher of the Week
Nate Thomas, NIU, Pitcher
Junior, South Bend, Ind. (Mishawaka Marian)
Thomas had a win and a save in relief this week at NIU went 2-2 at the Mule Mix Classic in Tennessee. On Thursday, Thomas entered the game at MTSU with a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the ninth. With runners at first and second with one out, the junior struck out the two Blue Raiders batters he faced to move the game into the tenth. When NIU took the lead 3-2 in the top of the 10th, Thomas retired the side to give the Huskies their first win of the season. Thomas earned the save in NIU's 7-5 win at Belmont on Saturday. He allowed just one base runner in the final two innings on a hit by pitch, striking out three. Thomas allowed one batter to reach base in 3.2 innings pitched this weekend, recording six strikeouts and no hits.
Other Nominees
Aaron Simpson, Ball State, OF
Junior, Orange, Calif. (Cypress College)
Simpson hit .333 for the weekend and was the leading contributor in Ball State's game 2 win over Alabama.Simpson went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk and scored 3 runs in the 8-5 win over Alabama
Kyle Nicolas, Ball State, Pitcher
Sophomore, Massillon, Ohio
Pitched 3.0 innings and allowed just 1 hit to earn the save in Ball State's win over Alabama.
Nicolas struck out 4 in the process of preserving the win
Pat Leatherman, Central Michigan, RHP
Senior, Jenison, Mich. (Jenison)
Leatherman turned in another solid outing in his second start of the season on Friday as the Chippewas throttled Prairie View A&M 15-2 in the opening game of the Cardinal Classic at Lamar. The Jenison, Mich., native went six innings scattering four hits, two runs (1 earned) with four punch outs while allowing just one free pass earning his first win of the 2019 campaign.
Holden Cook, Eastern Michigan, P
Sophomore, Oklahoma City, Okla (Casady)
Sophomore Holden Cook was outstanding on the mound versus Notre Dame in just the second start of his career, Feb. 22. The Oklahoma City, Okla. native tossed six scoreless innings, allowing just four hits, and striking out three en route to the win. He throw 99 pitches in the longest appearance by an EMU pitcher this season. Redshirt junior Caleb Hester came on in relief to lock down the game, throwing the final 2.1 innings to record his first career save. The victory was the fourth all-time over ND and the first over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since 2016.
Stephen Karis, Eastern Michigan, C
Freshman, Zionsville, Ind. (Zionsville)
Getting a taste of his first collegiate action, freshman Stephen Karis posted a .333 batting average with a 4-for-12 week at the dish in a trio of starts at catcher. In the Eagles' 4-2 victory over Notre Dame, Karis was 2-for-4 with the bat, including a pair of RBI and a run scored. In the sixth inning, Karis singled to right center to plate what proved to be the winning runs after the Fighting Irish responded with runs in the seventh and ninth innings. The victory was the fourth all-time over ND and the first over an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent since 2016. He also added a pinch hit single to drive in a run in the opening game of the weekend against Notre Dame, Feb. 21.Behind the plate, Karis helped the EMU pitching staff compile 14 strikeouts in 26.0 innings of work against UND and Incarnate Word.
Connor Wollersheim, Kent State, LHP
Senior Neenah, Wis. (Appleton North)
Wollersheim tossed 6.2 innings against No. 21 NC State (Perfect Game Poll), holding the Pack to just one run on three hits while ringing up eight batters. The Neenah, Wis. native spun five scoreless innings, holding Kent State's lead in his second start on the season, coming out of the game when the Flashes led 2-1.
Ben Carew, Kent State, OF
R-Sophomore, Appleton, Wis. (Kimberly High School)
Carew was a consistent spark in the Kent State lineup, batting .625 with five hits and four runs on the weekend. The Appleton, Wis. native was pivotal in the Flashes' win over Michigan State, tallying five RBI and scoring three runs. Against MSU, Carew went 3-for-5 with a double, coming up big with bases loaded twice. He also recorded two hits against No. 19 Coastal Carolina (NCBWA Poll), scoring a run.
Sam Bachman, Miami, Pitcher
Freshman, Fishers, Ind (Hamilton Southeastern)
Bachman was nearly unhittable in his start against Murray State Sunday. The freshman went five innings allowing no runs and only one hit. He struck out seven. Opponents had a .059 batting average against him for the week.
Cole Andrews, Miami, Designated Hitter
Freshman, Powell, Ohio (Bishop Watterson)
Andrews had a pair of big games as Miami opened its rain delayed series with Murray State on Monday. In Miami's 14-4 win in the opener, he was 4-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. That included the first two home runs of his collegiate career. Andrews then drove in another run in the nightcap.
Tommy Szczasny, NIU, Third Base
Junior, Tinley Park, Ill. (Lincoln-Way North)
Tommy Szczasny had a slash line of .467/.556/.733 this week as NIU went 2-2 at the Mule Mix Classic in Tennessee. The junior was 2-for-5 in the Huskies' first win of the season at MTSU on Thursday, 3-2 in 10 innings. Szczasny led off the top of the 10th with a double and scored the game-winning run on a Kam Smith single. On Saturday, Szczasny was 2-for-4 with two RBI in NIU's 7-5 win at Belmont. He capped the weekend with his first home run of the season in Sunday's second game at Austin Peay, drawing two walks in the game.
Brett Manis, Ohio, RHP
Sophomore, Port Huron, Mich.
Manis made two separate appearances for the Bobcats and did not allow an earned run to score. Manis fanned four batters in 2.2 innings pitched and had a 0.3750 WHIP the week.
Rudy Rott, Ohio, INF
Senior, Holmen, Wis (La Crosse Aquinas)
Senior Rudy Rott ( Holmen, Wis.) led the Bobcats with a .333 batting average over the weekend. Rott blasted his first home run of the year and also had a double over while collecting five base hits. Rott had an on-base percentage of .375 and collected two RBI.
