Co-Hitter of the Week: Adam Shank, St. Edward’s
DH, JR, Sugar Land, TX
Shank collected eight hits, including his first two homeruns in a Hilltopper uniform, in 17 at-bats during a four games against Newman. Shank also hit two doubles and reached base on a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Shank was directly responsible for 12 of the Hilltoppers’ 60 runs scored against Newman over the five games, scoring seven runs and driving in another five. With his performance, Shank raised his batting average to .391 on the season, which is second on the Hilltoppers to Heartland Conference-hitting leader Adam Wolotira.
Co-Hitter of the Week: Brandon Cox, Newman
OF, SR, Shawnee, KS
Cox made extra base hits a habit last week, notching five doubles in six games. The senior hit a double in each game of a mid-week series against Lincoln, and added two doubles to help the Jets come back for a 14-13 win over St. Edward’s in Friday’s nightcap. Those doubles resulted in seven runs batted in, and eight runs scored for the Jets. Additionally, Cox was hit by a pitch once, and struck-out just once in those six games.
Pitcher of the Week: Hunter Benton, UA Fort Smith
RHP, SO, Sherwood, ARBenton, a sophomore from Sherwood, Ark., was 1-0 in two relief appearances during the Lions’ three-game stretch last week against Cameron University and East Central University. Benton logged 4 2/3 innings of relief and allowed four hits. He walked one and struck out four. Opponents batted just .222 against. The right-hander allowed three hits, walked one and struck out four in four innings to earn his first win in three opportunities during the Lions’ 15-5 run-rule win against East Central University.