FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
MAC East Division Player of the Week
Derek Spencer, Bowling Green, Third Base
Junior, Oregon, Ohio (Clay)
Spencer had at least two hits and homered in every games last week as the Falcons won their series wtih Miami and went 3-1 on the week. Spencer was 3-for-5 with a two-run homer and three runs scored in non-league win over Toledo. He was 4-for-4 with two solo home runs and four runs scored in the series opener with Miami. Spencer was 2-for-5 with a solo home run and two runs scored in the middle game of the series with Miami. He was 3-for-3 with a pair of two-run homers and an RBI double for 5 RBI with three runs scored in the series finale against Miami. For the week, he hit .706 (12-of-17) with six home runs, 10 RBI and 12 runs scored and had a slugging percentage of 1.824 and an on-base percentage of .773. In the Miami series alone, Spencer hit .750 (9-of-12) with five home runs, eight RBI and nine runs scored with a slugging percentage of 2.083 and an .813 on-base percentage. Spencer has 15 hits in his last 22 at-bats over the last five games. He is hitting .384 for the season and .408 in MAC play.The Falcons took two of three games from Miami to win a series against the RedHawks for the first time since the 2004 season…in a series that featured 84 runs and 99 hits with the wind blowing out at Steller Field, BG hit 17 of the 26 home runs on the weekend and hit .424 as a team in the three games and had a team slugging percentage of .896.
MAC East Division Pitcher of the Week
Alex Loftin, Akron, Freshman
Stow, Ohio (Stow)
Loftin was outstanding for the Zips in two starts for the Akron this week, tallying 11 Ks on the week with a 1.00 ERA in two appearances. In 9.0 innings pitched, Loftin allowed just five hits and one earned run. Loftin threw three innings against Duquesne, allowing no runs and just one hit while tallying five strikeouts in Akron’s 6-2 win over the Dukes. The freshman also picked up his first career win over a MAC opponent as the Zips defeated Buffalo. 4-1. The freshman tossed six solid innings, allowing just one earned run on four scattered hits while striking out a career-high-tying six batters.
MAC West Division Player of the Week
Kolbrin Vitek, Ball State, Third Base
Sophomore, Bryan, Ohio (Bryan)
Dual threat sophomore third baseman/right-hander Kolbrin Vitek led the Cardinals to a 3-1 week including an upset of No. 23 Ohio State on the road. Vitek posted a .588 (10-of-17) average on the week and a 1.471 slugging percentage as he has 25 total bases in the four games. He drove in 11 runs on the week while scoring seven. He tallied six doubles and three home runs in the four games to move his season numbers to 22 and 10 respectively. He recorded four multiple-hit games and three multiple-RBI games. He moved his batting average up 16 points during the week as he is now the second Cardinal to reach the .400 mark. On the mound, Vitek picked up the victory Sunday afternoon as he worked 7.0 innings and struck out a career-high 11 batters against preseason MAC West favorite Western Michigan.
MAC West Division Pitcher of the Week
Trent Howard, Central Michigan, Freshman
Hammond, Ind. (Clark)
Howard threw his first career shutout in game two of a doubleheader against first place Toledo to guide the Chippewas to a 3-0 victory. Howard allowed just three runners as far as second base and none to advance as far as third, blanking the Rockets on seven hits and two walks while fanning eight.
