FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
(Courtesy of WAC)
DENVER – Fresno State third baseman Tom Mendonca and right-handed pitcher Derek Benny have been named the Western Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Mar. 23-29.
Mendonca, a junior from Turlock, Calif. (Turlock HS), hit .533 in helping the Bulldogs to three wins over Lipscomb last week. Mendonca went 8-for-15 at the plate with six runs scored, eight RBI, two doubles and three home runs. He also walked three times and was twice hit by a pitch. Trailing 3-6 in the bottom of the ninth inning against Lipcomb on Sunday, Mendonca hit a three-run homer to tie the game, which led the Bulldogs to the 7-6 come-from-behind victory. With his three home runs last week, Mendonca now ranks second all-time at Fresno State with 40 career home runs. He needs just four more home runs to break Fresno State’s all-time record.
Benny, a freshman from Roseville, Calif. (Roseville HS), pitched a complete game shutout in a 10-0 victory over Lipscomb. He became the first Fresno State pitcher in 42 years to face the minimum 27 batters in nine innings. He is just the second pitcher in Fresno State history to accomplish the feat, which was last done in 1967. Benny threw a career-high nine innings for his first complete game shutout in just his third start of the season. Benny struck out a career-high eight batters and didn’t give up a walk. He allowed only two hits against a Lipscomb team that was averaging 17.5 hits per game entering the contest.
The other hitter of the week nominations were Hawai‘i freshman outfielder Kolten Wong, Louisiana Tech junior outfielder Devon Dageford, Nevada senior third baseman Tyson Jaquez, New Mexico State senior center fielder Richard Stout, Sacramento State junior center fielder Tim Wheeler and San Jose State senior outfielder Jacob Bruns.
The other pitcher of the week nominations were Hawai‘i freshman Matt Sisto, Nevada sophomore Brock Stassi, New Mexico State junior DJ Simon, Sacramento State sophomore Brandon Sandoval and San Jose State senior Scott Sobczak.
