Baseball

UMass' O'Brien and Merritt Garner Weekly Baseball Awards

Player of the Week
Gavin O’Brien, UMass, OF/INF
Sophomore, Salisbury, Conn. (Salisbury)
Gavin O’Brien had an impressive performance on the 3-1 week for Massachusetts. O’Brien recorded a .421 batting average, a .476 on-base percentage and a 1.000 slugging percentage on the week. He tallied eight hits, which included two doubles and three home runs, four runs and 11 RBI in 19 at-bats. At Boston College, the sophomore had one double and scored one run. In game two at Eastern Michigan, he posted three hits, with one double and one home run, totaled one run and had three RBI. The series finale at Eastern Michigan saw O’Brien go 4-for-6 on the day, marking a career-high in hits. The Salisbury, Connecticut, native registered a career-high two home runs, one of which was his first career grand slam. He also recorded a career-best eight RBI and added two runs, while totaling 10 bases on the afternoon. 

In the field, O’Brien had seven putouts, no assists and no errors.

Pitcher of the Week
Adam Merritt, UMass, RHP
Sophomore, West Hartford, Conn. (Kingswood Oxford)
In the 10-0 win over Eastern Michigan on Saturday afternoon, Adam Merritt allowed no hits 
through seven innings of work to receive his first collegiate win. It also marked his first career shutout. Merritt gave up no runs, walked four and struck out a career-high matching seven strikeouts to hold a 0.00 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)
Week 7 (March 30): Ryan Muizelaar, Ball State (Player); Brendan Garza, Ball State (Co-Pitcher); Max Vaisvila, Northern Illinois (Co-Pitcher)
Week 8 (April 6): Tommy Harrison, Miami (Player); Carter Cox, Northern Illinois (Pitcher)
Week 9 (April 13): Gavin O’Brien, UMass (Player); Adam Merritt, UMass (Pitcher)