A pair of nationally-televised games on CSTV highlight this week’s action in Conference USA baseball. On Tuesday, longtime rivals Rice and Texas meet at Reckling Park (7 p.m. CT) in a matchup of top six teams. On Friday, Houston and Tulane, the teams that own the most C-USA baseball championships, meet at Zephyr Field in suburban New Orleans (live at Noon CT and again at 7 p.m. CT).
HITTER OF THE WEEK
JESS BUENGER, RICE
Sophomore, 2B/DH, Bellville, Texas
Buenger had one of the best weeks of any Owl all year, leading the team with a composite .556 batting average as the team went 3-1. He went 10-for-18 with a home run, four doubles, seven runs scored and four RBI. Buenger had a .944 slugging percentage and he was walked once and hit by a pitch for a .600 on-base percentage. On defense at second base, he had 14 put outs and 10 assists while turning or starting three of the Owls four double plays last week. Buenger was selected to the All-Silver Glove Series Team for the annual showdown with crosstown rival Houston.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
KYLE SWEAT, UCF
Sophomore, RHP, Apopka, Fla.
Taking on No. 17 Florida during a rainy evening in Gainesville April 10, Sweat had the best performance by a Golden Knight pitcher this season. The sophomore shut down the Gators by giving up just two hits and walking only two, keeping them scoreless over 8.0 innings of work. He struck out three and located his pitches extremely well to keep the Florida bats off-balance the entire game. Sweat is the only UCF starter in 2007 to last at least 8.0 innings as he has accomplished the feat in back-to-back starts (also went 8.0 in a win over Harvard March 26).
For entire C-USA notebook, click here.
