DALLAS (NCBWA) – This week's NCAA Div. III Hitter of the Week was a tough out, hitting over .800 and swiping 12 bases, while 17 scoreless innings and a .700 average claimed the week eight Pitcher and Rookie of the Week honors from the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. This week's honorees were chosen based on games April 11-17.
HITTER OF THE WEEK
Crown College (Minnesota) senior designated hitter/middle infielder Seth Betts went 13-for-16 (.813) with 16 runs scored, 12 stolen bases, nine RBI, five walks, three home runs, a double, and a triple during a 5-0 week for the Storm. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Week hit for the cycle and finished 5-for-5 with four runs during a 15-3 win over University of Minnesota Morris on Wednesday. He had multiple hits in four of the five games and stole at least one base each time, including a single-game school-record five versus Northland College (Wisconsin) on Saturday.
Honorable Mention Hitter: Damian Yenzi, Sr., INF, Marietta College (Ohio) – Ohio Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week after helping the top-ranked Pioneers to a 4-0 record last week. Yenzi batted .750 (15-of-20) with a 1.650 slugging percentage on the week with three doubles, five home runs, and 18 RBI. He had at least four hits in three of Marietta's four games and tied the single-game program record with three home runs in game one of a doubleheader with Heidelberg University.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Worcester State University (Massachusetts) junior Ben Smith threw 17 scoreless innings over the course of two Massachusetts State Athletic Conference series. Smith threw a complete-game seven-inning shutout against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Monday, earning the victory after striking out eight and giving up just four hits. He then went 10 innings of scoreless baseball against Westfield State University (Massachusetts) in a game that the Lancers went on to win 3-2 in 12 innings. In Friday's win, Smith struck out eight and allowed just five hits in his 10 scoreless frames.
Honorable Mention Pitcher: Nick Glaser, So., Fontbonne University (Missouri) – St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week after notching sixth-straight win in a 4-0 shutout over Eureka College (Illinois). Glaser worked eight scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, while striking out 13. The 13 strikeouts marked a career-high for the sophomore.
ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Lebanon Valley College (Pennsylvania) first-year catcher Jace Fetterman led the Dutchmen to a 2-1 week, including a conference sweep on the road against Albright College (Pennsylvania). The Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth Player of the Week had a huge stretch batting .700 (7-for-10) with a 1.400 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage. The first-year catcher had a double and two home runs among his seven hits. He added eight RBI and scored seven times.
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