BASEBALL: Austin Peay’s Robles, Lipscomb’s Norman garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay’s Alex Robles and Lipscomb’s Denton Norman were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Wednesday for their performances for April 24-30.
Robles batted .556 (10-for-18) with three extra base hits, seven RBIs and six runs scored in four games for the Governors, including hitting for the cycle in the final game of the week. The Tucson, Ariz., native posted two hits with three walks and two RBIs in a midweek contest against Western Kentucky and collected two hits, two runs scored and one RBI in the series opener versus UT Martin.
The senior drove in two more runs in the second game against the Skyhawks before going 5-for-5 with a two-run homer as well as a double, a triple and two singles in the series finale. He helped his own cause in the contest, allowing four runs on nine hits in six innings of work, his first start since April 7. Robles is batting .384 with 11 doubles, eight homers, 34 RBIs and 38 runs scored in 41 games this season.
Norman tossed eight scoreless innings against Kennesaw State in his first start in over two years because of Tommy John surgery, a game delayed in the ninth over two hours that Lipscomb won 1-0 with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The Katy, Texas, native gave up four hits and two walks, striking out five against the Owls, who entered the weekend averaging over six runs per game.
The senior righthander retired 9-of-10 batters to start the contest and then 9-of-10 in the middle of the game as well. He improved to 3-3 with five saves and a 1.59 ERA in 20 outings over 34.1 innings this season, striking out 29 while allowing just 26 hits. Opponents are batting .211 against him.
2017 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 14 – Ryan Addington, Carson-Newman (Player); Travis Dohr, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
February 21 – Nolen Milton, Union University (Player); Evan Heffner, Maryville College (Pitcher)
February 28 – Collin Harris, Tennessee Tech (Player); Brady Puckett, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
March 8 – Wade Weinburger, Bryan College (Player); Michael Wood, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
March 15 – Ryan Flick, Tennessee Tech (Player); Alex Robles, Austin Peay (Pitcher)
March 21 – Austin Krajnak, Cumberland University (Player); JR Miller, Union University (Pitcher)
March 29 – Matt Jones, Tennessee Tech (Player); Trey Sledge, Rhodes College (Pitcher)
April 6 – J.P. Castaneda, King University (Player); Octavio Mirabal, King University (Pitcher)
April 11 – Ryan Kemp, Middle Tennessee (Player); Matt Ruppenthal, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 18 – Paul Kirby, Carson-Newman (Player); Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 26 – Nick Egli, Belmont (Player); Blake Glaudeb, Rhodes College (Pitcher)
SOFTBALL: UT Martin’s Duncan, Carson-Newman’s Rinus named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – UT Martin’s Jodie Duncan and Carson-Newman’s Lacie Rinus were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Wednesday for their performances for April 24-30.
Duncan garnered the award for the second straight week, batting .462 (6-for-13) with three doubles, one home run, five RBIs and two runs scored in four games for the Skyhawks. The Munford, Tenn., native posted two hits with a double and drove in both UTM runs in a loss to Kentucky and collected two hits with a double and solo homer along with two RBIs in the second game of a doubleheader at Belmont.
The junior infielder added an RBI double among her two hits in a single game at Tennessee State. Duncan is batting .364 with nine doubles, five home runs, 39 RBIs and 20 runs scored in 50 games for this season for UT Martin.
Rinus pitched the Eagles to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament championship over the weekend, striking out 28 in 27.0 innings while allowing just 15 hits and six runs, picking up all four wins in the process. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native struck out seven and gave up three runs on five hits in a 4-3 win over Queens College to open the tournament.
The freshman lefthander allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts in an 11-3 victory over Coker College before reeling off 14 consecutive scoreless innings to end the tourney. She struck out nine and gave up two hits in a 1-0 win against Lenoir-Rhyne, with the Eagles scoring the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Rinus then shutout Coker on two hits as well, striking out six, in a 2-0 victory in the championship game. She improved to 26-5 with a 1.34 ERA in 32 appearances and 209.0 innings of work this season, striking out 224 and giving up just 149 hits. Opponents are batting only .200 against her.
2017 TSWA SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 14 – Lexi Cushing, Middle Tennessee (Player); Brooklin Lee, Belmont (Pitcher)
February 21 – Chelsey Deloney, Belmont (Player); McCarley Thomas, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
February 28 – Ashley Scott, Union University (Player); Mandy Jordan, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
March 8 – Morgan Brewer, Maryville College (Player); Hayley Smothers, King University (Pitcher)
March 15 – Kay Brokering, King University (Player); Nicole Blackburn, Maryville College (Pitcher)
March 21 – Jess Andree, Belmont (Player); Mandy Jordan, Lipscomb (Pitcher)
March 29 – Taylor Scott, Carson-Newman (Player); Savannah Carr, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
April 6 – Paige Robertson, Union University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
April 11 – Alex Richardson, Trevecca University (Player); Brooke Kennedy, UT Martin (Pitcher)
April 18 – Emily Bennett, Union University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
April 26 – Jodie Duncan, UT Martin (Player); Brooklin Lee, Belmont (Pitcher)