NDSU's Wentz, ORU's Smolen Collect Baseball Weekly Awards
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Zach Wentz, North Dakota State
So.,
Bismarck, N.D./Bismarck Century
Wentz earns the weekly honor after hitting .600 overall and .611 in
league games, as NDSU went 4-2 on the week and 3-1 in the league.
In a four-game set at WIU, the sophomore scored six runs on 11 hits
with 11 RBI, three doubles, a home run and stolen base. He also had
a .632 on-base percentage and .944 slugging percentage in the
series. Wentz set a career-high with five RBI in game four vs. the
Leathernecks and has 12 multi-hit games during his 14-game hitting
streak. For the week, he tallied 15 RBI, eight runs, four doubles
and two home runs.
Also nominated: Jeff Ericson, Centenary; Shaun VanDreissche,
IPFW; Tim Ryan, Oakland; Andrew Melton, South Dakota State; Bo
Cuthbertson, Southern Utah; John Koszulinski, Western
Illinois.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Bryce Smolen, Oral Roberts
Jr.,
Houston, Texas/Univ. of Texas-Pan American
Smolen captures the Pitcher of the Week award after tossing a
complete game shutout in Oral Roberts' 10-0 victory over Oakland in
game one of the series. The junior went 9.0 innings, striking out a
career-high 10 batters while walking just one. The Houston, Texas,
native allowed just five singles in the game and retired 19 of the
final 20 batters he faced. It was Smolen's first career
shutout.
Also nominated: David Benson, Centenary; Jason Mattila,
North Dakota State; Matt LaMothe, Oakland; Stephen Bougher, South
Dakota State; Steve Johnson, Southern Utah; Devin VanBrooker,
Western Illinois.
