DALLAS (NCBWA) Simon Rosenbaum of Pomona-Pitzer was perfect at the plate, while Chris Bishop of Pacific Lutheran and Jake Perkins of Ferrum were nearly the same on the pitching mound earning them the first NCAA Division III National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week honors for 2014 as voted on by a panel of D-III members of the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association.
Rosenbaum, a sophomore first baseman from Los Altos Hills, Calif., led the Sagehens to a sweep of Redlands March 2. In only two games played due to rain for the period of Feb. 24-March 2, Rosenbaum made them count, batting eight-for-eight with 10 RBIs. He was three-for-three with a staggering eight runs-batted-in in the opener, hitting a two-run double in the first, a three-run double in the second, a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and a two-run homer in the seventh. He was then five-for-five with three runs scored and two RBIs in the nightcap, capping off his day with two hits in a seven-run eighth of a 14-4 win, which included opening the frame with a double and ending it with an RBI single. He also added a two-out RBI single in the sixth. Of his eight hits, five resulted in runs-batted-in and three led off innings to set the table, while he also had a walk and a hit by pitch to his credit.
Bishop, a junior right-hander from Rochester, Wash., threw the first nine-inning no-hitter in PLU baseball history March 8 in a Northwest Conference road win over Willamette. Bishop, in lowering his season earned run average to 0.36, threw 108 pitches and allowed only two base runners during a 10-0 victory while throwing the Lutes' first no-no since Joel Barnett's seven-inning no-hitter in 1993. It was just the second total no-hitter in program history and earned Bishop Northwest Conference Pitcher of Week accolades.
He shared the award with Perkins, the USA South Conference' s Pitcher of the Week. The Appomattox, Va., sophomore fired his second no-hitter of the season in a 13-0, nine-inning win March 1 over Maryville (Tenn.). He issued just one walk and struck out 11.
Honorable Mention Hitters: Breck Davidson (Piedmont) - 6-for-8 (.750), `10 RBIs, four runs scored, one triple, one home run, four walks and one stolen base; Alex Longernecker (Moravian) - 7-for-10 (.700), two doubles, two triples, six runs scored and five RBIs; Casey Hicks (Gallaudet) four hits, eight RBIs, four runs scored · hit for cycle; Derek Dixon (George Fox) - .778 (5-7), two doubles, two home runs, five RBIs.
Honorable Mention Pitchers: Jason Byers (Marietta) 9 IP, four hits, no runs, eight Ks, two walks; Hayden Cleveland (Franklin) · 0.64 ERA, opp. .137 BA, 2-0, two CG, 15 Ks.
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