Vanderbilt's Pat DeMarco
BASEBALL: Vanderbilt’s DeMarco, Memphis’ Bowlan garner TSWA accolades
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Vanderbilt’s Pat DeMarco and University of Memphis pitcher Jonathan Bowlan were named the Baseball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 23-29.
DeMarco batted .636 (7-for-11) with three RBIs, two stolen bases and six runs scored in three games for the Commodores against South Carolina. The Staten Island, N.Y., native was 2-for-3 with a two-run homer, two runs scored and a walk in the first game of the series versus the Gamecocks.
The freshman outfielder collected two hits with two stolen bases, a walk and two runs scored in the second game of the series and was 3-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in the finale. He reached base nine times in the three outings.
DeMarco is batting .311 with nine doubles, six home runs, 28 RBIs and 35 runs scored in 43 games this season.
University of Memphis pitcher Jonathan Bowlan
Bowlan set the Memphis program and American Athletic Conference record with 18 strikeouts in a win at 20th-ranked South Florida. The Arlington, Tenn., native posted the most strikeouts by a pitcher in a Division I game this season in his first career complete game. The junior righthander allowed two runs on four hits and did not walk a batter, facing just 31 total hitters in the contest.
Bowlan retired 18 straight to end the contest and recorded all 18 strikeouts swinging. He posted his second victory of the year and has a 2.78 ERA with 88 strikeouts in 68.0 innings over 11 appearances.
2018 TSWA BASEBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Kyle Blackwell, Cumberland University (Player); Dillon Cate, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Fernando Garcia, Bryan College (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
March 6 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Stephen Chamblee, Bryan College (Pitcher)
March 13 – Sam Mang, Trevecca University (Player); Will Neely, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 20 – David Scoggins, Bryan College (Player); Sean Hunley, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 27 – Hayden Lewis, Union University (Player); Mason Hickman, Vanderbilt (Pitcher)
April 3 – Drew Huff, Middle Tennessee (Player); Grant Boyd, King University (Pitcher)
April 10 – Ethan Harrison, Trevecca University (Player); Daniel Tolano, Tennessee Wesleyan (Pitcher)
April 17 – Parker Phillips, Austin Peay (Player); Matt Bradley, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
April 24 – Wade Weinburger, Bryan College (Player); Drew Pierce, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
SOFTBALL: Trevecca’s Odom, Austin Peay’s Rackel named TSWA award winners
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Trevecca University’s MaKray Odom and Austin Peay’s Morgan Rackel were named the Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, by the Tennessee Sports Writers Association on Tuesday for their performances for games April 23-29.
Odom batted .714 (10-for-14) with two doubles, four RBIs and seven runs scored in four games for the Trojans. The McEwen, Tenn., native singled twice and drove in a run in the first game of a doubleheader against Malone University. She was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the second game versus the Pioneers.
The sophomore collected three more hits with a double, one RBI and three runs scored in the first of two games against Walsh University and registered two hits with a double and two runs scored in the second contest versus the Cavaliers.
Odom is batting .475 with five doubles, four triples, 22 RBIs and 38 runs scored in 38 games this season.
Austin Peay's Morgan Rackel
Rackel posted a 4-0 mark in four outings, allowing just one run with 28 strikeouts and tossing a no-hitter against Eastern Illinois.
The Calgary, Alberta, native picked up two victories in relief against Alabama A&M, striking out four in 1.2 hitless innings in a 1-0 victory, with the Governors scoring the only run in the bottom of the seventh. The junior lefthander allowed two hits with four strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings in the second game versus AAMU, with APSU scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh in a 3-2 win.
Rackel struck out nine and gave up one run on three hits in a complete-game win against SIU-Edwardsville and followed that with a complete-game no-hitter versus EIU, walking one and striking out 11 in the first no-hitter for APSU since 1997. The Panthers had three baserunners in the contest, two of those via Govs errors.
Rackel improved to 18-6 with a 1.51 ERA in 30 appearances this season with 17 complete games, allowing 121 hits in 153.1 innings of work. She has 187 strikeouts and opponents are batting .207 against her.
2018 TSWA WOMEN’S SOFTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
February 20 – Bailey Alexander, Trevecca University (Player); Lacie Rinus, Carson-Newman (Pitcher)
February 27 – Jocelyn De La Cruz, Middle Tennessee (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 6 – Kyler Trosclair-Klatt, Memphis (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
March 13 – Lexi Rouse, Belmont (Player); Molly Smith, Memphis (Pitcher)
March 20 – Essence Strambler, Maryville College (Player); Kayley Caplinger, Cumberland University (Pitcher)
March 27 – Brigid Antonelli, Cumberland University (Player); Savannah Carr, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
April 3 – Morgan Brewer, Maryville College (Player); Savannah Carr, Trevecca University (Pitcher)
April 10 – Megan Groves, Trevecca University (Player); Taylor Waldrop, Tennessee Tech (Pitcher)
April 17 – Gabby Morris, Union University (Player); Caylan Arnold, Tennessee (Pitcher)
April 24 – Haley Barnette, Union University (Player); Cori Jennings, Middle Tennessee (Pitcher)