SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – South Dakota State outfielder Cael Frost and righthander Nic McCay swept the latest TicketSmarter Summit League Baseball Peak Performer and Pitcher of the Week awards, League officials announced Monday. For Frost, he becomes the first multiple winner of the season, while McKay snagged his third career award and first since his freshman season in 2019.
Frost hit safely in all four of SDSU's games last week, going 7-for-13 (.538) to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. The JUCO transfer is now batting .413 on the season, which is second among Summit League hitters.
After hitting a sole home run in a mid-week tilt at Kansas State, Frost went 6-for-10 and reached base safely in 12 of 16 at-bats in a series sweep at Oral Roberts to open League play. He scored twice in all three victories over the Golden Eagles, which marked the first time in program history ORU had been swept at home in Summit League play.
He had three hits in the opener for the fifth time this season and the Gilbertville, Iowa, native belted a three-run homer in the sixth inning that provided the game-winning runs in a 12-7 victory in game two. The home run was his League-leading ninth of the season.
In the 6-3 victory in game three that secured the sweep, Frost added two more hits and two runs. The multi-hit game was his ninth of the campaign.
McCay allowed five hits and one earned run in SDSU's 5-2 victory in the series opener. He covered seven-plus innings and equaled the program's single-game record with 13 strikeouts.
The Carlisle, Iowa native blanked the Golden Eagles through seven innings, striking out the side in the fourth and sixth innings, respectively, while posting multiple punchouts in the second, third and seventh frames.
McCay, who missed the 2020, 2021 and 2023 seasons due to injury, picked up his first win after logging the longest outing of his season.
Baseball Peak Performer of the Week
Cael Frost, South Dakota State
Jr. | OF | Gilbertville, Iowa
• Extended hitting streak to 18 games with a 7-for-13 (.538) over four games last week
• Batted .600 in the three-game sweep of Oral Roberts, scoring twice in each victory
• Hit League-leading ninth home run of season in game-two victory
• Earned the second weekly accolade of his season
Others Nominated for Player of the Week: Joe Roder (St. Thomas); Jake Schaffner (North Dakota State); Tyler Bishop (Omaha).
Baseball Peak Pitcher of the Week
Nic McCay, South Dakota State
Sr. | RHP | Carlisle, Iowa
• Earned his first win of the season after logging a season-high seven innings in series-opener at ORU
• Equaled the program single-game record with 13 strikeouts in win over Golden Eagles
• Struck out the side in the fourth and sixth innings, while adding multiple punchouts in the second, third and seventh frames
• Earned the third weekly award of his career and first of the season
Others Nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Charlie Bell (Omaha); Jacob Mrosko (St. Thomas); Nolan Johnson (North Dakota State).
2024 Baseball Weekly Award Winners
February 19
Peak Performer of the Week: Dawson Parry, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher of the Week: Dylan Smith, Northern Colorado
February 26
Peak Performer of the Week: Elijah Rodriguez, Oral Roberts
Peak Pitcher of the Week: Jacob Mrosko, St. Thomas
March 4
Peak Performer of the Week: Cael Frost, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher of the Week: Jake Goble, South Dakota State
March 11
Peak Performer of the Week: Trent Burkhalter, Omaha
Peak Pitcher of the Week: Preston Tenney, Omaha
March 18
Peak Performer of the Week: Cael Frost, South Dakota State
Peak Pitcher of the Week: Nic McCay, South Dakota State
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