ASU’s Kipnis Named Pac-10 Baseball Player of the Week and UCLA’s Murphy Named Pitcher of the Week
This is the first weekly honor for Kipnis and Murphy’s third.
Media Release
(Walnut Creek, CA) – Arizona State redshirt sophomore outfielder Jason Kipnis has been named the Pacific-10 Conference Baseball Player of the Week and UCLA junior left-handed pitcher Tim Murphy has been named Pitcher of the Week for May 19 – 25, Commissioner Tom Hansen announced today.
Kipnis, from Northbrook, Ill., helped Arizona State clinch their second straight Pac-10 title, going 8-for-13 (.615) with a double, a triple, a homer and six runs batted in during the final week of the regular season. He also stole a base, drew four walks and played perfect defense in the outfield.
Murphy, from Vista, Calif., pitched his second complete game shutout of the season, helping the Bruins blank No. 15 California, 8-0, in Friday’s series opener at Evans Diamond. Murphy scattered five hits in nine innings, totaling 10 strikeouts while walking four hitters. Murphy’s complete-game effort helped pave the way for UCLA’s series victory at California over the weekend. UCLA blanked the Golden Bears, 7-0, on Saturday to become the first Bruin baseball team to post back-to-back shutouts since 1978. With the win, Murphy improved to 5-6 on the season with a 3.52 ERA and team-highs of 107 strikeouts and 94.2 innings.
The Player of the Week honor is the first of Kipnis’ career, and the 89th such honor for ASU. The Pitcher of the Week honor is the third for Murphy, and the 48th selection all-time for UCLA.
Also nominated for Player of the Week: Logan Boyd, OSU; Joey August, STAN; Brandon Crawford, UCLA; Joey Dunn, WASH.
Also nominated for Pitcher of the Week: Daniel Schlereth, ARIZ; Mike Leake, ASU; Anthony Vasquez, USC.
2008 PAC-10 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 26-Brett Wallace, Jr., 3B, ASU; Mar. 4-Josh Satin, Sr., 2B, CAL; Mar. 11-Ike Davis, Jr., 1B/LHP, ASU; Mar. 18-Ike Davis, Jr., 1B/LHP, ASU; Mar. 25-Ryan Ortiz, So., C, OSU; April 1-David Cooper, Jr., 1B, CAL; April 8-Sean Ratliff, Jr., OF/LHP, STAN; April 15-Grant Green, So., SS, USC; April 22-Lonnie Lechelt, Sr., IF, OSU; April 29-Kiel Roling, Jr., DH, ASU; May 6-Kyle Conley, RS So., OF, WASH; May 13-Kyle Conley, RS So., OF, WASH; May 20-Kiel Roling, Jr., 1B, ASU.
2008 PAC-10 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK: Feb. 26-Tyson Ross, Jr., RHP, CAL; Mar. 4-Tim Murphy, Jr., LHP, UCLA; Mar. 11-David Coulon, Sr., LHP, ARIZ; Mar. 18-Ross Humes, Jr., P, WSU; Mar. 25-Ryan Cook, Jr., RHP, USC; April 1-Tyson Ross, Jr., RHP, CAL; April 8-Nick Haughian, Jr., LHP, WASH; April 15-Ryan Perry, Jr., RHP, ARIZ; April 22-Erik Davis, Sr., RHP, STAN; April 29-Preston Guilmet, Jr., RHP, ARIZ; May 6-Jason Novak, Jr., RHP, UCLA; May 13-Matt Gorgen, Jr., P, CAL; May 20-Tim Murphy, Jr., LHP, UCLA.
