Co-Player of the Week
Jacob Gillis, Ball State, 1B
Junior, Fergus, Canada (Bossier Parish CC)
Gillis started and finished the weekend in Charleston, S.C., with a bang, blasting a grand slam in the first inning on Friday against Merrimack to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead and going 4-for-6 with two home runs and four RBI in Ball State's 14-6 win over Merrimack on Sunday. The first baseman drilled a three-run shot to left center in the fourth frame to put the Cardinals ahead 6-4 and tacked on an opposite field solo homer in the seventh inning that made the score 11-4. Gillis posted a 1.643 OPS in 14 at bats on the week.
Co-Player of the Week
Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State, Utility
Sophomore, North Olmsted, Ohio (Saint Ignatius)
Sawyer Solitaria continued his torrid start to the season with a stellar four-game stretch against top-tier competition, helping the Flashes win a road series at #13 Tennessee after competing at #2 LSU. The sophomore right fielder went 7-for-15 (.467) with a home run, four RBI, and six runs scored across the four games, posting a .579 on-base percentage and .800 slugging percentage for a 1.379 OPS. Solitaria was particularly impressive in the Tennessee series, going 5-for-10 (.500) with two doubles while drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch twice, reaching base in nine of his 14 plate appearances against the Volunteers. His clutch performance included a 3-for-4 effort with a double in Saturday’s 2-1 win, and he added a strong showing against LSU with a 2-for-5 game that included a home run and three RBI. Playing flawless defense in right field with nine putouts across the four games.
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Evan Holewinski, Kent State, Pitcher
Redshirt Sophomore, Bethel Park, Pa. (Bethel Park)
Evan Holewinski was outstanding in relief across two appearances against top-ranked competition, helping the Flashes secure a series win at #13 Tennessee while competing against #2 LSU. The right-hander tossed 7.0 innings over two outings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking three, posting a 2.57 ERA for the week. Holewinski was particularly dominant in the series finale at Tennessee, throwing 4.2 innings of shutout ball with three strikeouts while allowing only three hits to earn the win in a 9-5 victory that clinched the series for the Flashes.
Co-Pitcher of the Week
Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois, Pitcher
Junior, Princeton, Ill. (Princeton)
Danny Cihocki had a career-high 10 strikeouts in seven innings on Saturday in NIU's 3-1 win at Presbyterian. He allowed only one runner to get into scoring position after the second inning. Five of his strikeouts came after the Huskies took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. Cihocki doubled the number of strikeouts from his first outing of the season Feb. 14 at North Carolina A&T. Through two weeks of the season Cihocki is tied for the MAC lead in strikeouts with 15 and innings pitched with 12.
2026 Baseball Players & Pitchers of the Week
Week 1 (Feb. 16): Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State (Player); Luke Neiswonger, Central Michigan (Pitcher)
Week 2 (Feb. 23): Jacob Gillis, Ball State (Co-Player); Sawyer Solitaria, Kent State (Co-Player); Evan Holewinski, Kent State (Co-Pitcher); Danny Cihocki, Northern Illinois (Co-Pitcher)
