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IRVING, Texas—Tyler Farst (Nebraska) has been tabbed the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Player of the Week, while A.J. Morris (Kansas State) and Nick Fleece (Texas A&M) have been named Co-Pitchers of the Week, for the games of March 23-29, in voting by a panel of media covering the conference.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Tyler Farst, Nebraska, 1B, Jr., 6-0, 211, Cedar Park, Texas/Grayson College
Farst hit .500 with a homer, nine RBI and six runs scored in a four-game week. He compiled a .875 slugging percentage with four of his eight hits advancing to extra bases, while also finishing with a .600 on-base percentage. The Cedar Park, Texas native led the Huskers to their biggest comeback in six seasons against Northern Colorado on Tuesday. Farst went 2-for-3 at the plate with a homer and a career-high five RBI to help Nebraska overcome a 10-3 deficit for a 14-13 victory. He closed the week with his first career four-hit game, posting a 4-for-5 outing with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in an 11-9 win that snapped OU’s 16-game home win streak dating back to last season.
PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
A.J. Morris, Kansas State, RHP, Jr., 6-2, 200 Humble, Texas (Humble HS)
The junior starting pitcher tallied his seventh win in as many tries this season as he tossed his first career complete game on Friday night at Baylor. Morris’ efforts led K-State to its first win in Waco since 1966 and broke an 18-game losing streak at Baylor since the beginning of Big 12 play. He allowed just six hits in 33 at-bats, good for a .182 opponent batting average against a Bear squad that was hitting .301 entering the weekend. Morris, who paces the Big 12 in ERA at 0.39, is tied for eighth in school history for wins in a season, and is just two victories away from tying the school record.
Nick Fleece, Texas A&M, RHP, So., 6-2, 200, Fort Worth, Texas/Boswell HS
Fleece picked up two wins and two saves in A&M’s 4-0 week, during which all four games were decided by three runs or less. He earned the win Tuesday against UT-Arlington, saves on Friday and Sunday against Kansas and another victory Saturday against the Jayhawks. The Fort Worth, Texas hurler held opposing hitters to an .053 average (1-for-19) overall, with the only hit resulting as an infield single to shortstop against UTA. After giving up a walk and a hit to start his outing against the Mavericks on Tuesday, he allowed just one of the final 19 batters faced to reach base. Fleece has recorded a win or save in five straight games for A&M.
2009 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 23: Caleb Shofner, Texas A&M, 3B, So.
March 2: Adam Bailey, Nebraska, OF/LHP, Jr.
March 9: Aaron Miller, Baylor, OF/LHP, Jr.
March 16: Kevin David, Oklahoma State, C, So.
March 23: J.T. Wise, Oklahoma, C, Sr.
March 30: Tyler Farst, Nebraska, 1B, Jr.
2009 PHILLIPS 66 BIG 12 PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Feb. 23: Shaeffer Hall, Kansas, LHP, Jr.
March 2: Brandon Workman, Texas, RHP, So.
March 9: Ryan Duke, Oklahoma, RHP, So.
March 16: Kyle Gibson, Missouri, RHP, Jr.
March 23: Kyle Gibson, Missouri, RHP, Jr.
March 30: A.J. Morris, Kansas State, RHP, Jr.
Nick Fleece, Texas A&M, RHP, So.
