Player of the Week
Harrison Bowman, Central Michigan, OF
Junior, Owensboro, Ky. (Apollo)
Harrison Bowman delivered for Central Michigan as it took two of three from Toledo in a MAC series. Bowman was the last man at the plate in both CMU wins as he hit a one-out eighth-inning grand slam to lift his team to an 18-7 run-rule victory on Saturday, and then on Sunday he delivered a two-out RBI single in the 11th inning for a 6-5 walk-off win.
Bowman had four hits including a three-run double and his grand slam in Saturday's game, and finished with nine RBI, a season high for a MAC player and it tied him for the second most in a single game in the 119-year history of Central Michigan baseball.
Overall, Bowman went 7-for-14 (.500) with four runs scored, two doubles, one home run, 10 RBI and a .857 slugging percentage for the week.
Pitcher of the Week
Nathan Leininger, Toledo, RHP
Senior, Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty)
He delivered a dominant performance in Toledo’s 10-1 victory over Central Michigan, earning the win after tossing a career-high eight innings.
Leininger struck out 10 batters — also a career best — without issuing a walk and did not allow a run until the seventh inning, when an unearned run crossed the plate. He limited the Chippewas to just three runners in scoring position across his eight innings of work and punctuated his outing by striking out the side in the eighth.
Through six starts this season, he owns a 4-0 record with a 2.17 ERA.
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)
Week 3 (March 2): Tommy Harrison, Miami (Player); Brendan Garza, Ball State (Pitcher)
Week 4 (March 9): Caden Robertson, Northern Illinois (Player); Ethan Stade, Bowling Green (Pitcher)
Week 5 (March 16): Ryan Muizelaar, Ball State (Player); Zac Sohosky, Miami (Pitcher)
Week 6 (March 23): Harrison Bowman, Central Michigan, (Player); Nathan Leininger, Toledo (Pitcher)
