SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Oral Roberts not only won all six games at home last week, but they swept the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, League officials announced Monday. Jackson Loftin earned the Player of the Week, while Ledgend Smith collected the Pitcher of the Week.
Loftin garnered the first career player of the week accolade after he helped guide the Golden Eagles to six wins, totaling a team-best six extra-base hits and three home runs. The redshirt junior shortstop swiped a team-best four stolen bases, recorded two sacrifice flies, walked twice and posted a triple.
With ORU trailing 5-3 against Wichita State on Thursday, the Houston, Texas native led off the sixth inning with a solo blast, sparking an eight-run frame. In total, Loftin posted a .500 batting average (11-for-22), recorded a 1.091 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage.
Smith was dominant on the mound for ORU, striking out 17 batters in 11 innings of work. The Binger, Okla., native stuck out a career-high nine and allowed just two hits in six innings of work in the win against Pacific on Saturday. Against Wright State, Smith went five innings allowing four hits and striking out eight batters. Furthermore, Smith registered a .150 opponent batting average and only walked two batters.
Baseball Player of the Week
Jackson Loftin, Oral Roberts
R-Jr. | SS | Houston, Texas
• Batted .500 (11-for-22) with nine RBI, three home runs, two doubles and a triple
• Swiped a team-high four stolen bases, earned a 1.091 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage
• Captured the first weekly award of his career
Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Ledgend Smith, Oral Roberts
R-Sr. | LHP | Binger, Okla.
• Struck out 17 batters in 11 innings of work in wins against Wright State and Pacific
• Punched out a career-best nine in the win over Pacific on Saturday
• Earned his first weekly award of his career
2022 Baseball Weekly Award Winners
February 21
Player of the Week: Mike Boeve, Omaha
Pitcher of the Week: Evan Sankey, North Dakota State
February 28
Player of the Week: Mac McCroskey, Oral Roberts
Pitcher of the Week: Evan Sankey, North Dakota State
March 7
Player of the Week: Jackson Loftin, Oral Roberts
Pitcher of the Week: Ledgend Smith, Oral Roberts
Others Nominated for Player of the Week: Luke Ira, South Dakota State; Peter Brookshaw, North Dakota State
Others Nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Max Loven, North Dakota State; Charlie Bell, Omaha
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