NCBWA Names National Players of the Week

FROM NCBWA RELEASE

MORGANTOWN, W.Va – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA)­ released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending March 18, today. Stony Brook junior outfielder Travis Jankowski was named National Hitter of the Week, while Mississippi State junior right-hander Chris Stratton was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.

Jankowski batted .600 (9-for-15) in a 4-1 week for the Seawolves, while also reaching base at a .714 clip and slugging 1.133. The centerfielder also recorded 14 putouts and an assist with no errors for a perfect fielding percentage. The Lancaster, Pa., native accounted for 10 runs, scoring seven times and driving in three more out of the leadoff spot, and went 5-for-6 on steals attempts. The junior went 3-for-5 against Iona on Wednesday and then reached base in all seven appearances, including a two-run home run, in a doubleheader sweep of Yale on Sunday. He finished the week with three doubles, a triple and the four-bagger.

Stratton registered an SEC season-high and career-best 17 strikeouts and four hits over 8.2 innings in a remarkable no-decision start at No. 10 LSU. Matched with LSU ace Kevin Gausman, the Tupelo, Miss., native struck out all nine starters in the LSU lineup, fanned two Tiger batters three times each and recorded a trio of three-strikeout innings. His 17 strikeouts are the most by a Bulldog pitcher since 1992. He held LSU to .138 hitting in the game. At one stretch he retired 16 consecutive batters, 11 via strikeout. Stratton leads the SEC with 44 strikeouts and the team with 29.2 innings pitched.

Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association’s official Web site, www.ncbwa.com.