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 April 14. North Carolina junior third baseman Colin Moran was named National Hitter of the Week, while Wichita State junior right-handed pitcher Cale Elam 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.


Moran registered an RBI in all five of UNC's games and three or more RBI in four of those contests. The Rye, N.Y., native batted an even .500 (12-for-24) at the plate with a pair of doubles and two home runs to add to his team lead of nine long balls. Moran became the first player in the country with 50 runs scored and 50 RBI and currently leads the nation with 51 runs scored after crossing the plate 11 times last week, including a career-high five times in Saturday's 9-8 win at Virginia Tech. The 16-RBI week for Moran gave him 56 for the season and moved him to within four of the national lead of 60.


In addition to the 12 hits on the week, Moran drew four walks and did not strike out in 29 plate appearances. Moran currently leads the ACC in RBI in conference-only contests with 28 and ranks second with 22 runs scored behind freshman teammate Landon Lassiter's 26.


Elam pitched his first career complete game shutout on Friday in Wichita State's 4-0 win at Bradley. He allowed just five singles with no walks and a career-high 13 strikeouts. The Oktaha, Okla., native struck out at least one batter in eight of nine innings and struck out multiple batters in four of the nine innings. He allowed just five base runners in the game and only three of them reached scoring position. It was the most strikeouts by a Shocker pitcher since 2011 and the first complete game shutout by a Shocker pitcher since 2011. The 13 strikeouts were also a Peoria Chiefs Stadium record for a college pitcher.


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)