MAC Announces Weekly Baseball Accolades
MAC Baseball Co-Players of the Week
Brad Boss, Toledo, CF
Senior, Temperance, Mich. (Bedford)
Boss led the Rockets offensively last week, hitting .400 over five games and posting a slugging percentage of 1.000 and an on-base percentage of .625. In his 24 plate appearances over the five games, Boss tallied six hits, five of which went for extra bases, and recorded nine walks. He went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs while walking three times in the 19-8 win over Oakland, he had his first career multi-home run game against Purdue Fort Wayne, and he went 2-for-3 with three runs and two doubles in the 4-3 win over Central Michigan. He also played errorless defense in center field. He ranks in the top five in the MAC in doubles (15) and home runs (6).
Justin Kirby, Kent State, OF
Freshman, Alpharetta, Ga./Alpharetta
Kirby has worked his way into the heart lineup and has become an offensive juggernaut, launching three home runs in a single game to open the series at Northern Illinois. Kirby is the first Golden Flash to accomplish this feat since April 2005. Through four games last week Kirby posted a .368 batting average and .895 slugging percentage, collecting seven hits with three home runs and a doubles through four games on the week. He also scored seven runs and collected five RBIs while stealing two bases. On the season, Kirby has a .355 average and .688 slugging percentage, totaling 19 RBIs and 29 runs scored. With his conference stats, Kirby leads the MAC in slugging percentage (.923), home runs (5) and doubles (8) and is also ranked second in the MAC in batting average (.442), tenth in on-base percentage (.500), sixth in runs scored (16), fourth in hits (23) and eighth in RBIs (15).
MAC Baseball Pitcher of the Week
John Baker, Ball State, RHP
Junior, Hartland, Mich. (Hartland)
Baker threw 8 scoreless innings at Miami on Sunday, leading BSU to a series-clinching 6-1 win. He struck out 8 and scattered 6 hits in the 130-pitch effort, which lifted his season record to 5-1. Baker is 3-0 in 4 starts against MAC teams this season.
Others Nominated
Chase Sebby, Ball State, C
Junior, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Sebby posted an OBP of .563 and scored a team-high 4 runs as BSU won a series at Miami. Sebby's RBI single and run lifted BSU past Miami in a suspended game that started Friday and finished Saturday. Ball State won the weather-affected game 3-2. Sebby then hit an RBI triple on Sunday to help Ball State to a 6-1 win at Miami. Ball State is the only league team to win a series over Miami this year.
Jordan Patty, Central Michigan, RHP
Sophomore, Midland, Mich. (Midland)
Patty turned in an outstanding week on the mound for the Chippewas as CMU finished 3-1 with a non-conference victory at Cornerstone and claimed 2-of-3 in a MAC series at Toledo. The Midland, Mich., native made three appearances working a total of 7 2/3 innings with a 1.17 ERA and 13 strikeouts. On Tuesday, Patty worked a scoreless inning of relief in the Chippewas 10-5 win over the Golden Eagles allowing just one hit before punching out three in a row to end the game. Patty made his first career start in the nightcap of Sunday's 18-3 doubleheader victory over the Rockets. He allowed just one run on three hits with a career-high eight strikeouts in five innings to earn his first win of the season.
Jacob Crum, Central Michigan, OF
Senior, St. Johns, Mich. (St. Johns)
Crum flexed his muscle at the dish this past weekend as the Chippewas claimed 2-of-3 in a MAC series at Toledo. The St. Johns, Mich., native hit .333 over the three-game set with five hits, two home runs, six RBI and 11 total bases. The bulk of the damage came in an 18-3 victory in the nightcap of Sunday's doubleheader sweep of the Rockets where Crum finished 4-of-5 at the plate with six RBI and went yard twice.
Tyler Koons, Eastern Michigan, RHP
Freshman, Flat Rock, Mich. (Gibraltar Carlson)
Koons was impressive on the mound in Eastern’s midweek game against the University of Dayton, April 16. In his career-best five-inning effort, Koons showed great command, allowing just two walks while striking out a career-high five Flyer batters. In total, Koons relinquished just three hits, all singles, and gave up zero runs in his no-decision, with opponents hitting just .167 against the talented freshman.
Jeff Timko, Eastern Michigan, Outfielder
R-Sophomore, Rochester Hills, Mich. (Brother Rice)
Timko led the Eastern Michigan offense in its five games against the University of Dayton, April 16, Michigan State University, April 17, and Ohio University, April 19-21. Compiling a .474 batting average in his five appearances, the EMU standout knocked nine hits on the week, including his fourth home run of the year, which is tied for the team lead. With 12 total bases and three drawn walks, Timko gave Eastern scoring chances throughout its games, and was able to cross the plate on three occasions for the Green and White. On the season, Timko is now hitting at a blistering .352 clip, and has accounted for over 15 percent of the Eagles’ extra-base hits in 2019.
Trevor Pittman, Kent State, RHP
Redshirt Freshman, Eaton, Ohio (Eaton)
Pittman picked up his first career win on the mound, leading the Flashes to a key series win over NIU Sunday afternoon. The Eaton, Ohio native spun 5.0 innings without allowing an earned run and giving up just two hits while tying a career-high six strikeouts. He started the game by retiring the Huskies in order and striking out the side. On the season, Pittman has made 11 appearances, starting five games and striking out 36.
Sam Bachman, Miami, Pitcher
Freshman, Fishers, Ind (Hamilton Southeastern)
Bachman was unhittable during his outing against Ball State on Friday. He kept the Cardinals without a hit over 6.0 innings as the game remained scoreless in a pitchers' duel. He also had eight strikeouts. Unfortunately the rains came and forced a suspension of the game until Saturday when relief pitchers took over.
Nick Drobushevich, NIU, OF
Freshman, Moline, Ill. (Moline)
Drobushevich extended his hitting streak to 12 games this week, going 7-for-17 in four games against Iowa and Kent State. The freshman was 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI in midweek at Iowa. He opened the weekend with a 3-for-5 game in NIU's 17-11 win over Kent State on April 19, driving in a season-high four runs. Drobushevich was 2-for-4 with two RBI on April 20 and capped the weekend scoring twice on April 21 while going 1-for-3. The freshman is hitting .433 in conference play with a .485 on-base percentage while slugging .533.
Edward Kutt IV, Ohio, RHP
Sophomore, Westlake, Calif
In his second-straight Friday start, Edward Kutt IV was dominant once again. Kutt IV allowed just one earned run in 8.0 innings and struckout six batters in Ohio's series opening win. Kutt IV now has a team-best 1.64 ERA in 17 appearances for Ohio in 49.1 innings pitched.
Michael Richardson, Ohio, INF
Redshirt Sophomore, Cambridge, Md. (Cambridge South Dorchester)
Richardson had timely hitting all weekend in Ohio's sweep of of Eastern Michigan. Richardson had a hit in each game last week, including three in Ohip's game two, 8-2, victory. Richardson knocked in two RBI in that win and three overall in Ohip's sweep. Richardson made his presence felt on the basepaths with five stolen bases last week, and scored three runs.
Doug Smith, Toledo, RHP
Junior, Galloway, Ohio (Central Crossing / Cuyahoga CC)
Smith was the starter in Toledo's 4-3 win over CMU on Friday. Smith threw seven innings, allowing six hits and no walks while striking out two. Smith kept the Rockets in the game after allowing three runs in the third inning, holding the Chippewas scoreless in innings 4-7 and escaping a two-on, no-out jam in the seventh.
Will Mullen, Western Michigan, Right Handed Pitcher
Redshirt junior, Rochester, Mich. (Notre Dame Prep)
Mullen had a strong week on the mound for the Broncos registering a 1.12 ERA in four appearances and notching two saves on the road. Mullen appeared in each game of the three-game series at Bowling Green over the weekend, allowing just one run on five hits while striking out five. Mullen earned his third save of the season in game one of the series, going 3.1 innings, allowing no runs on four hits while striking out three Falcon batters. In the series finale the redshirt junior RHP threw 1.2 innings of scoreless ball, striking out two BGSU batters for his fourth save of the season. During the week, Mullen walked just three batters and held opponents to a .276 batting average. On the year Mullen leads the team with a 3.15 ERA in 21 appearances. Mullen has been dominant since the start of MAC play, posting a 2.18 ERA with a 1-0 record in 20.2 innings of work. During conference play, the Rochester, Mich., native has given up just five earned runs while striking out 17. Mullen has given up just one earned run over his last nine appearances.
