FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
Northwestern junior Jake Goebbert
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jake Goebbert, Northwestern
Jr., LF, Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire
Goebbert led Northwestern to a series split with Purdue over the weekend, hitting .625 and slugging 1.000 while reaching base at a .700 clip to combine for an OPS of 1.700. In the Wildcats’ Big Ten opener on Friday, the junior went 1-for-4 with a walk and a run-scoring double in a narrow 4-3 loss. Goebbert led the NU offense on Saturday, going 4-for-4 with three runs and three RBI on two doubles and a walk as the Wildcats exploded for a 13-4 victory. Northwestern scored in each of the five innings that Goebbert came to the plate in Saturday’s game, and his weekend performance raised his batting average 40 points. The Hampshire, Ill., native ranks among the Big Ten’s leaders in doubles with seven already this season after setting his school’s single-season doubles record last year with 22. The award is the fourth of Goebbert’s career and the first for a Wildcat hitter this season.
Last Northwestern Player of the Week: Jake Goebbert (April 21, 2008)
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Will Strack, Illinois
RHP, Fr., Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore
Strack secured the series sweep for Illinois in Game 2 of a Sunday doubleheader, tossing a complete-game shutout in the Illini’s 3-0 win over Michigan State. Making the third start of his career, Strack allowed just four hits and a walk in the outing, facing only three batters over the minimum. The Spartans hit.138 against him, while Michigan State left-handers were held to a .059 average in the game. Strack also got the start in a non-conference game vs. Central Connecticut State last Monday where he threw 6.0 innings, scattering six hits while allowing just one earned run in a no-decision. For the weekend, the Sycamore, Ill., native posted a WHIP of .87 with an ERA of 0.60 while holding opposing hitters to a .192 batting average over 15 innings of work. The award is the first of Strack’s career and the second for an Illinois pitcher this season.
Last Illinois Pitcher of the Week: Ben Reeser (March 9, 2009)
