NCBWA NAMES DIVISION INATIONAL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association released its National Player of the Week awards for the period ending March 10. Austin Peay senior outfielder Cody Hudson was named National Hitter of the Week, while Stony Brook junior right-handed pitcher Frankie Vanderka 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.


Hudson had three game-winning hits (two of which were walk-offs) as Austin Peay was a perfect 5-0 last week to improve to 13-2 on the season, the best 15-game record in program history. Hudson had a three-run home run walk-off run home on Tuesday as Austin Peay came from behind to top Michigan State 10-7. Against Milwaukee on Friday the senior had a suicide squeeze in the 10th inning to push the Govs to a 4-3 victory. On Saturday, Hudson added the game-winning two-run double in the eighth inning as APSU pushed past Creighton 9-8. He ended the week against Arkansas-Little Rock with a second inning RBI single that gave his team the lead for good in an 8-4 win.


For the week, Hudson hit .500 (11-for-22) with five runs scored, a double, home run, 11 RBI, three stolen bases, a .522 on-base percentage and a .682 slugging percentage. He had multiple hits in all five games including a three-hit performance against Creighton. Hudson currently leads the OVC with a .417 batting average and is third in RBI/game (1.07) through 15 contests.


Vanderka tossed a no-hitter in the Seawolves' 2-0 win over Fordham, going nine innings, striking out six batters and walking only three (one intentionally). It was the second no-hitter of Vanderka's career, as he also threw one as a freshman at NJIT in 2011. The game was scheduled as a seven-inning game, but went into extra innings as the two teams were scoreless. The Seawolves scored twice in the top of the ninth and Vanderka set the Rams' 2-3-4 hitters down in order in the ninth to secure the no-hitter and the win. He threw 102 pitches in the game, 71 for strikes.


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.


For more information on the NCBWA Division I National Players of the Week, contact NCBWA Assistant Executive Director Mike Montoro at West Virginia University at 304-293-2821.


2013 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week:

Feb. 19: Danny Collins, Troy (Hitter); Buck Farmer, Georgia Tech (Pitcher)

· Feb. 26: Charlie White, Maryland (Hitter); Bryce Biggerstaff, Central Arkansas (Pitcher)

· March 5: A.J. Reed, Kentucky (Hitter); Mark Appel, Stanford and Carlos Rodon, N.C. State
(Pitcher)


· March 12: Cody Hudson, Austin Peay (Hitter); Frankie Vanderka, Stony Brook (Pitcher)

· March 19: Zach Fish, Oklahoma State (Hitter); Pat Young, Villanova (Pitcher)

· March 26: C.K. Irby, Samford (Hitter); Ryan Kellogg, Arizona State (Pitcher)

· April 2: Mason Katz, LSU (Hitter); Cole Irvin, Oregon (Pitcher)

· April 9: Ian Graham, UNC Asheville (Hitter); Aaron Blair, Marshall (Pitcher)

· April 16: Colin Moran, North Carolina (Hitter); Cale Elam, Wichita State (Pitcher)

· April 23: Colby Roberts, James Madison (Hitter); Harrison Musgrave, West Virginia (Pitcher)

· April 30: Trey Mancini, Notre Dame (Hitter); Matt Florer, Loyola Marymount (Pitcher)

· May 7: Mitchell Tolman, Oregon (Hitter); Aaron Nola, LSU (Pitcher)

· May 14: D.J. Stewart, Florida State (Hitter); Harrison Musgrave, West Virginia (Pitcher)

· May 21: Duncan McAlpine, Dallas Baptist (Hitter); Shane Carle, Long Beach State and Andrew Moore, Oregon State (Pitcher)