FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – St. John’s leftfielder Jeremy Baltz and Cincinnati righthander Andrew Strenge became the first freshman duo of the season to sweep the BIG EAST’s weekly baseball honors.
Baltz batted .500 (9-for-18) with five home runs, two doubles and nine RBI in four games last week. With seven extra-base hits, the freshman slugged 1.444 and also posted a .526 on-base percentage. The highlight of the week for Baltz came in an 8-5 win against No. 9 Louisville in which the freshman went 4-for-5 with four home runs and seven RBI. Baltz had a solo shot in the second inning and added two-run home runs in the third, eighth and ninth innings. In that same game, the leftfielder broke STJ single-season records in both home runs and RBI. The four homers ties a BIG EAST single-game record and also put Baltz first among all rookies in the NCAA with 18 jacks.
Strenge pitched eight scoreless innings against No. 24 Pittsburgh on May 16, striking out a career-high nine batters without drawing a walk. The Panthers entered the game leading the nation in batting average and ranked third in scoring. The one-run performance tied Pitt’s season-low run total. Strenge has not allowed an earned run in 22.2 straight innings.
Honor Roll
Randy Fontanez, USF, RHP, Jr.
1-0, 7.0 IP, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, Team: 1-3
Jedd Gyorko, West Virginia, SS, Jr.
.500 AVG (9-for-18), 6 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI, Team: 3-1
Stewart Ijames, Louisville, OF, So.
.444 AVG (8-for-18), 6 R, 2 2B, 10 RBI, Team: 2-2
Ryan Kapp, Rutgers, DH, So.
.417 AVG (5-for-12), 4 R, 3 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, Team: 2-1
George Springer, Connecticut, OF, So.
.474 AVG (9-for-19), 7 R, 2 2B, 4 HR, 7 RBI, Team: 4-1
