OVC Players of the Week
PLAYER
Jordan Kreke, SS/P • Sr., 6-2, 200 • Bartelso, Ill. • Eastern Illinois
In five games last week, Kreke hit .579 (11-for-19) with seven runs scored, a double, triple, three home runs and 12 RBI as the Panthers compiled a 4-1 record. He was 10-for-15 (.667) with three home runs and 12 RBI in a three-game sweep of Morehead State in the Conference opener for both teams. He also delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single with EIU trailing 4-3 in the seventh inning of game two; the team went on to win 6-4. He homered and collected multiple hits and RBI in each of the MSU games, including four hits in the series opener and finale. Kreke tied his career-high with five RBI in Sunday’s finale. Against Indiana mid-week, Kreke earned his first victory on the mound, pitching 2.1 inning of one-run relief and closing out the game by retiring seven of the final eight batters he faced.
Others Nominated: Jayson Langfels, Eastern Kentucky; Steven Leach, Jacksonville State; Drew Lee, Morehead State; Jonathan Craycraft, Murray State; Louie Haseltine, Southeast Missouri; Miles Hartsfield, UT Martin.
PITCHER
Austin Lucas, RHP • Jr., 6-5, 200 • Alabaster, Ala. • Jacksonville State
Lucas did not allow an earned run in 14 innings of work last week, posting a 2-0 record and Jacksonville State went 5-1 overall as a team. Lucas pitched a complete-game shutout in the Gamecocks 10-0 win over Bradley last Tuesday in Florida and followed that up with seven solid innings in a 14-3 Conference win over Murray State. Against Bradley he allowed just five hits with five strikeouts and only one walk. He followed that with a four-hit, five-strikeout, no-walk performance against MSU. He lowered his season E.R.A. to a team-best 2.22.
Others Nominated: Ryne Harper, Austin Peay; Mike Recchia, Eastern Illinois; Daniel Calhoun, Murray State; Jim Klocke, Southeast Missouri; Coty Green, UT Martin.
