MAC East Division Baseball Player of the Week
Kyle Dean, Ohio
So., C Athens, Ohio (Athens)
Dean led the Bobcats’ offensively to a 2-2 weekend last week at the 2012 Davidson Tournament in Davidson, N.C. Dean went 6-for-12 (.500), posted a slugging percentage of .833, had seven RBI and collected his first career home run. In the Bobcats’ 7-6 win over Davidson on March 3, Dean drove in a pair of runs in the seventh which sparked the team’s rally in the seventh inning. In the Bobcats’ first win of the day over Presbyterian, Dean drilled a three-run home run to give Ohio a lead it would not relinquish as it went on to a 8-1 victory over the Blue Hose.
MAC East Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Tyler Skulina, Kent State
So, RHP, Strongsville Ohio (Walsh Jesuit)
Skulina tossed a two-hit shutout over six frames and recorded a career-high nine strikeouts Sunday (March 4) at Western Kentucky, departing the game with a no decision and the contest locked in a scoreless tie. He leads Kent State's starting arms with a 0.47 ERA and ranks second with 20 strikeouts in three starts in 2012.
MAC West Division Baseball Player of the Week
Ryan McMillin, Western Michigan
Sr., 3B
McMillin helped Western Michigan go 3-1 this weekend at the Snowbird Classic in Port Charlotte, Fla., and post two wins over Big Ten opponents ... WMU defeated Northwestern (4-1), Ohio State (15-8) and Villanova (6-5) ... McMillin batted .400, going 6-for-15 at the plate ... all but one of his six hits were for extra bases, as he hit four doubles and a home run and had a .867 slugging percentage ... in the Broncos' 15-8 win over Ohio State, McMillin went 2-for-4, hitting a three-run home run and a double, while also scoring three runs ... McMillin doubled twice in the win over Northwestern, and gave the Broncos a 5-3 lead in the seventh with a two-run two bagger ... he recorded a hit in all four games.
MAC West Division Baseball Pitcher of the Week
Cal Bowling, Ball State
Sr., RHP, Muncie, Ind. (Yorktown)
Bowling continued his stellar start to the season as he tossed a complete game five-hitter against Big 12 foe Missouri Friday night to spoil the Tigers’ home opener. Bowling limited the Tigers to two runs on only five hits while walking one batter and striking out seven. He retired 19 of the final 20 batters he faced and did not allow a runner past first base after the third inning. Bowling has worked into at least the seventh inning in all three starts this season as he own a 2.28 ERA in 23.2 innings so far on the young campaign. The complete game was the fifth of his career and the first against a non-conference opponent as he tossed his previous four last year in MAC play.
Other Nominees
Brandon Winter, Akron
So., OF, Bellefontaine, Ohio (Bellefontaine)
Winter had an excellent week in three games at a tournament in Austin Peay. Winter batted 4-for-12 with four doubles, two RBIs, and three runs scored during the weekend. His efforts earned him a nod on the Riverview Classic All-Tournament team.
Alex Loftin, Akron
Sr., RHP, Stow, Ohio (Stow-Munroe Falls)
Loftin collected a 3.0 inning save in Akron's 7-6 win over Youngstown State at Austin Peay on Saturday. The senior did not allow a hit in the outing to preserve UA's one run lead and earn the first save of his career.
Ben Singer, Bowling Green
So., RHP, Midland, Mich. (Midland)
Singer threw 5.2 innings over the course of two games in relief, getting the win in a 12-4 win over Mount St. Mary's. Singer threw 1 inning at Dayton, finishing out the win in a 5-2 win at Dayton, the Falcons first of the season. Singer came in long relief in a Saturday contest over the Mountaineers of Mount St. Mary's. Singer went 4.2 innings in relief, allowing just one unearned run with just one hit allowed.
Jake Thomas, Bowling Green
So., OF, Litchfield, Ohio (Buckeye)
Thomas went 9-13 on the week at the plate, leading off three times as the team won two games in his three appearances. Thomas was on base three times at Dayton, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Against Mount St. Mary's, he went 4-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs. Thomas also walked in the game, as he was on base five-out-of-six times on the day. Thomas also went three-for-four in a 5-2 loss to Northeastern on Sunday, recording 3-of-5 team hits.
Dan Scahill, Buffalo
Sr., OF, Lombard, Ill. (Elgin CC)
Scahill continued his fast start to the season this past weekend, batting .412 (7-17) with two doubles, a home run and four RBI in a four-game series against Morehead State. On Saturday, Scahill went 2-5 with a home run, two RBI and a walk, and on Sunday, the senior right fielder went 3-3 in game one of the doubleheader, driving in two runs while scoring twice himself. For the season, he is leading the team with a .379 batting average, three home runs and seven RBI.
Mike Burke, Buffalo
So., RHP, Cleveland, Ohio (St. Ignatius)
Burke gave the team its best pitching performance of the season so far in a crucial game, holding off a tenacious Morehead State offense for a 6-3 complete-game win Sunday afternoon. After spending the first three games of the series at shortstop, the sophomore was hardly tired, striking out eight batters over his seven innings of work. After the Eagles batted almost .400 with 12 extra-base hits through the first three games, Burke stifled them and allowed just one extra base hit among the eight he scattered.
Matt Trowbridge, Central Michigan
Fr., LHP, Mokena, Ill. (Providence Catholic)
Trowbridge made his first collegiate start Sunday at McNeese State and earned the win after striking out five batters over five innings of work. Trowbridge limited the Cowboys to just three hits over five innings, giving up two runs - one earned - to give the Chippewas a weekend split at the McNeese State Round Robin in Lake Charles, La.
Jordan Dean, Central Michigan
Jr., SS, Midland, Mich. (Bullock Creek)
Dean led Central Michigan at the plate over the weekend, coming up big in each of its two wins at the McNeese State Round Robin. Dean blasted a two-run home run in Friday's 7-6 win over Southeastern Louisiana, finishing the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored. In Sunday's 7-4 win over host McNeese State, Dean once again recorded multiple hits going 2-for-4 with two more runs scored in addition to hitting his first career triple.
Nick Hamilton, Kent State
R.-Jr., 3B, Avon Lake, Ohio (Avon Lake, Ohio (Xavier)
Hamilton led Kent State with a staggering .700 batting average, seven hits and five RBIs on the weekend at Western Kentucky. He had a career day at the plate in game two of the Saturday (March 3) doubleheader against the Hilltoppers, going 4-for-5 – including two doubles -- with five RBIs and a run scored to help the Golden Flashes (5-4) record a 13-3 victory. Hamilton followed that effort up by leading the Flashes at the plate Sunday (March 4) with two doubles, upping his series total to four.
John Crummy, Miami,
So., C, Butler, Pa.
Played in all three games at 16th-ranked Ole Miss, starting the first two… batted .455 (5-for-11) with three RBIs… also scored a run… had his first career multi-hit game on Friday night, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs… added a hit in three at-bats both Saturday and Sunday… entered the game with only one career hit (last year)… was perfect on all 13 fielding chances.
Shawn Marquardt, Miami
Sr., LHP, Carmel, Ind.
Was a hard-luck loser in Sunday’s 2-1 decision at 16th-ranked Ole Miss… threw seven innings, leaving the game trailing 2-0… held the Rebels to only six hits, while striking out two… walked a pair… one of the runs was scored without the benefit of a hit (BB, SB, GO, SF)... lowered his season ERA to 2.89.
Jake Hermsen, Northern Illinois
Sr., LHP New London, Wis. (New London)
Hermsen pitched one of the marquee games of his career against No. 11 Arizona State Friday afternoon. In his no decision start, Hermsen pitched a career-high 7.2 innings and hurled eight strikeouts, including two on called strike three, and a mere three walks against the nationally-ranked Sun Devils. though he surrendered eight hits, he shined with runners on-base as ASU was a mere 2-for-17 (.118) with runners on.
Alex Klonowski, Northern Illinois
So., UTIL, Kearney, Mo. (Kearney)
Sophomore Alex Klonowski started in four different positions for the Huskies (RF, LF, 2B, 3B), committing zero errors, and even made a one inning relief appearance on the mound. At the plate Klonowski was clutch with four hits, two doubles, four RBI and one run scored. He knocked in the game-tying run with a double against No. 11 Arizona State in the top of the sixth, started a seventh inning rally against Winthrop with an RBI single and knocked in two of the Huskies four runs in the first inning against St. Mary's. On the mound, Klonowski totaled three strikeouts in six batters faced.
Brent Choban, Ohio
Sr., LHP, Rittman, Ohio (Archbishop Hoban)
Choban picked up his first victory of the year as he worked 8.0 innings, struck out four, scattered eight hits and did allow a run to lead the Bobcats to an 8-1 victory over Presbyterian on March 3. Choban has allowed only one earned run in his last 14 innings.
Joe Corfman, Toledo
Senior INF. Richfield, Ohio (Revere)
Corfman hit .357 (5-for-14) with three runs scored, one home run and four RBI in three games last weekend at Furman. Corfman hit safely in all three contests, including one multi-hit effort. The fourth-year Rocket opened the weekend with a 1-for-4 effort and one run scored. The following afternoon, Corfman finished 3-for-5 with one run scored and one RBI. The Richfield, OH native then wrapped up the weekend going 1-for-5 with a three-run home run. Corfman has now hit safely in six consecutive contests and is leading the team with a .341 (15-for-44) batting average with 10 runs scored, two round trippers and seven RBI.
Patrick Borlik, Western Michigan
So., RHP
Borlik was phenomenal in two middle relief appearances this week, setting his team up for wins over Northwestern (4-1) and Villanova (6-5) ... Borlik threw a combined seven scoreless, no-hit, innings and struck out six while walking three ... against Northwestern, Borlik inherited two runners with no outs in the sixth, he walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but then stranded all three Wildcats, recording a pair of strikeouts and a flyout ... he fanned two more batters in the seventh and threw a total of three innings in the game, giving away to WMU's closer in the ninth ... against Villanova, Borlik inherited two runners with no outs in the fourth and again came away with no damage, recording two ground outs ... he threw four innings in the game and sat Villanova down in order in the fifth and seventh and struck out a pair in the sixth.