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DALLAS - The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released the Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week awards for the period ending May 15, today. Arizona State junior outfielder Matt Spencer was named National Hitter of the Week, while Central Connecticut State junior left-hand pitcher Matt Gianini was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I conferences each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season. Spencer helped lead Arizona State to a huge weekend sweep of conference-rival UCLA. The Morristown, Tenn., native was 9-12 (.750) on the weekend, with a double, a triple, two home runs, seven RBIs, six runs scored and two hit by pitches. He also made two pitching appearances and played stellar defense all weekend, making several highlight reel catches and throwing a runner out at home. Spencer started the weekend going 4-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored as the Devils erased a 14-7 deficit to claim a 16-14 victory on Friday night. He came up huge on Saturday, homering twice and recording the game-winning hit, a bases loaded walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth that completed another ASU comeback. Sunday his two hits helped ASU once again rally from behind, as he knocked in the tying run in the seventh inning, completing a seven run comeback that ended with an 11-10 Sun Devil victory and the three-game sweep. Gianini had a dominant effort in CCSU's 13-0 win over Wagner in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. In tossing his second consecutive shutout, the West Haven, Conn., native allowed just three hits and struck out 11 to pick up his third victory of the season. He fanned eight straight Seahawk batters at one point, all swinging, including striking out the side in the fifth and sixth innings. Gianini permitted just one runner to reach second base in the contest. He has not allowed an earned run in his last 15 innings and has struck out 20 while walking just four in his last two starts. In the two shutouts, no opposing runner has reached third base and only two have occupied second base. With this week's honor, Gianini automatically is named to the watch list for the Roger Clemens Award, given to the national collegiate pitcher of the year, sponsored by the Greater Houston Baseball Organization. Fort Worth-based Pro-Line Athletic supplies the official cap to more than 100 Division I college teams and official uniforms and team wear to six Division 1 college teams. This is the third season Pro-Line has sponsored the NCBWA's Players of the Week. The sponsorship provides for plaques to be awarded to each of the weekly winners and other promotional consideration. For more information about Pro-Line, visit their Website at: www.prolineathletic.com. 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 Website, www.ncbwa.com.
