DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 22. Texas Tech sophomore infielder Josh Jung and Florida State senior outfielder Steven Wells were named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while Bucknell senior right-handed pitcher Connor Van Hoose was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Jung recorded 10 hits over four games last week, with seven going for extra bases, the most of any conference player during that stretch. The San Antonio, Texas, native totaled two doubles, two triples and three homers, two coming in the same game at New Mexico on April 17. The midweek in Albuquerque had a little more meaning than just his first two home run day, as Jung completed the first cycle by a Red Raider since 2008. He went 5-for-5 in the contest, hitting a triple in the ninth inning to seal the deal.
It was part of a career-high eight RBI day for Jung, who finished the week with 13 overall to go with eight runs scored. His cycle was also the 19th recorded in Big 12 history. Jung and the Red Raiders finished the week with a 3-1 mark, securing a series victory over No. 14 Oklahoma.
Wells hit .824 to lead Florida State to a 5-0 week, going 14-for-17 at the plate with an .870 on-base percentage and 1.294 slugging percentage with seven runs driven in, two doubles, two home runs, six walks, and only one strikeout. Entering the week hitting .195 on the season, Wells raised his batting average to .298. He had a 12-for-12 stretch at one point, and had career-high four hits on both Wednesday against Stetson and Saturday against Boston College. The senior right fielder from Key West, Fla., reached base in 22 of 24 plate appearances.
Van Hoose struck out eight, walked two, and did not allow a base hit in Saturdays 3-0 victory over Lehigh on Senior Day at Depew Field. The Alexandria, Va., native required only 76 pitches, and he faced only two batters over the minimum while improving his Patriot League ledger to 5-1 with a 0.45 earned-run average. He tossed the 15th no-hitter in Patriot League history, and it was the 20th no-hitter in college baseball this year, breaking the NCAA record previously set in 1973.
It was Bucknell's first no-hitter since future Major Leaguer Matt Daley turned the trick against Lehigh in 2004. Hall-of-Fame Don Richards had the first no-hitter in team history against Franklin & Marshall in 1956. Kurt Waldner no-hit Lafayette in 1993, and Mike Tomko and Matt Potalivo combined for a no-hitter against Niagara in 1998.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, ncbwa.com.
For more information on the NCBWA Division I National Players of the Week, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
Feb. 20: Jake Brodt, Santa Clara (Hitter); Nick Sandlin, Southern Miss (Pitcher)
· Feb. 27: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Hitter); Joe DeMers, Washington (Pitcher)
· March 6: Luke Heyer, Kentucky (Hitter); Payton Kinney, Omaha (Pitcher)
· March 13: Jacob Rhinesmith, Western Kentucky (Hitter); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· March 20: Joe Genord, USF (Hitter); Griffin Roberts, Wake Forest (Pitcher)
· March 27: Bren Spillane, Illinois (Hitter); Jake Lee, Oakland (Pitcher)
· April 3: Jon Littell, Oklahoma State (Hitter); Colton Eastman, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)
· April 10: Connor Pauly, Morehead State (Hitter); Scotty Sunitsch, Washington State (Pitcher)
· April 17: Ross Haffey, Miami, Ohio (Hitter); Noah Zavolas, Harvard (Pitcher)
· April 24: Josh Jung, Texas Tech and Steven Wells, Florida State (Hitter); Connor Van Hoose, Bucknell (Pitcher)
· May 1: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Hitter); Barrett Loseke, Arkansas (Pitcher)
· May 8: Adam Sasser, Georgia (Hitter); Haylen Green, TCU (Pitcher)
· May 15: Will Wilson, N.C. State (Hitter); Luke Heimlich, Oregon State (Pitcher)
· May 22: Will Holland, Auburn (Hitter); Sam Shutes, Toledo (Pitcher)
2018 NCBWA Division I Players of the Month:
February: Brett Kinneman, N.C. State (Player); Brady Feigl, Ole Miss (Pitcher)
· March: Seth Beer, Clemson (Player); Casey Mize, Auburn (Pitcher)
· April: Alex Holderbach, Eastern Kentucky (Player); Connor Thomas, Georgia Tech (Pitcher)
· May: Cal Raleigh, Florida State (Player); Logan Gilbert, Stetson (Pitcher)