DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending April 9. Mississippi State redshirt junior outfielder Brent Rooker was named National Hitter of the Week, while West Virginia sophomore right-handed pitcher Michael Grove 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.
This marks Rookers second NCBWA National Hitter of the Week honor, winning it on February 28. During his five-game week, he hit .625 (10-for-16) with nine runs scored, one double, six home runs, 13 RBI and five walks in addition to being hit by pitch three times. The Germantown, Tenn., native notched 29 total bases for a 1.813 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage and helped lead the Bulldogs to a series win vs. No. 8 Kentucky.
Rooker hit two home runs on Wednesday against FIU, including the walk-off winner in the 10th inning, then followed it up on Saturday with a three-home run game, making him the first Bulldog to accomplish the feat since 2010.
In WVUs 8-0 win over Kansas on Saturday, April 8, Grove was dominant on the mound, retiring the first 23 batters he faced. The Wheeling, W. Va., native did not allow a baserunner until giving up a two-out single in the eighth inning. In 8.0 innings pitched, Grove struck out a season-best 12 batters, one shy of tying his career high. Throwing 109 pitches, he did not allow a run and gave up just one hit with no walks.
With his 12 strikeouts, Grove has struck out at least eight batters in four of his last five starts. While improving to 3-1 on the year, Grove had his third consecutive quality start of the season and sixth of his career.
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, www.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.
2017 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:
Feb. 21: Andrew Kendrick, Youngstown State (Hitter);
Jared Poché, LSU and Robbie Welhaf, Elon (Pitcher)
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Feb. 28: Brent Rooker, Mississippi State (Hitter);
Justin Dillon, Sacramento State (Pitcher)
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March 7: Chase Lunceford, Louisiana Tech (Hitter);
Danny Hrbek, Radford and Parker Rigler, Kansas State (Pitcher)
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March 14: Connor Smith, Western Michigan (Hitter);
Eli Morgan, Gonzaga (Pitcher)
· March 21:
Jake Scheiner, Houston (Hitter); John Gavin, Cal State Fullerton (Pitcher)
· March 28: Matt Lloyd, Indiana (Hitter); Cory Abbott,
Loyola Marymount (Pitcher)
· April 4: Keaton
Kringlen, BYU (Hitter); Alex Cunningham, Coastal Carolina (Pitcher)
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April 11: Brent Rooker, Mississippi State (Hitter);
Michael Grove, West Virginia (Pitcher)
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April 18: Stuart Fairchild, Wake Forest (Hitter); Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
· April 25: Dylan Busby, Florida State (Hitter);
Alex Faedo, Florida (Pitcher)
· May 2: Hunter
Hargrove, Texas Tech (Hitter); David Peterson, Oregon (Pitcher)
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May 9: Dan Kerwin, UT Martin (Hitter); Trevor Stephan,
Arkansas (Pitcher)
· May 16: Jared Barnes,
South Alabama (Hitter); Zach Prendergast, Seton Hall (Pitcher)
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May 23: Kevin Milam, St. Mary's (Hitter); Cole Bartlett,
Missouri (Pitcher)
2017 NCBWA Division I Players of the Month:
February: Brendon McKay, Lousiville (Hitter); James
Poché, LSU (Pitcher)
· March: Brent
Rooker, Mississippi State (Hitter); David Peterson, Oregon (Pitcher)
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April: Drew Ellis, Louisville (Hitter); Jake Thompson,
Oregon State (Pitcher)
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May: Chris Carrier, Memphis (Hitter); Trey Cumbie,
Houston (Pitcher)