DENVER Rice outfielder Austin Davis and San Jose State right-handed pitcher Matt Durkin have been named the Western Athletic Conference player and pitcher of the week, respectively, for March 3-9.
Davis, a junior from Houston (Spring Branch Memorial HS), hit .600 (9-15) in four games for the Owls last week. He began the week going 2-for-3 against Houston and finished with Rices first four-hit game of the season on Sunday at Louisiana Tech. In the latter game, he had two singles, a double and his second home run of the season. For the week, Davis scored four runs and drove in five.
It is Davis second ever WAC Player of the Week award.
Durkin, a sophomore from Willow Glen, Calif. (Willow Glen HS), pitched a complete-game shutout in an 8-0 win against Santa Clara on Friday. Durkin allowed no walks and five hits while striking out a career-high 15 batters. He struck out seven of the first 10 batters he faced in raising his record to 4-1 on the season.
It is Durkins second WAC Pitcher of the Week award this year and fourth of his career.
Other player of the week nominations included: junior infielder Casey McGehee, Fresno State; senior catcher Brian Bock, Hawaii; senior third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, Nevada; and sophomore center fielder Nate Corrick, San Jose State.
Additional pitcher of the week nominations included: freshman Rich Olsen, Hawaii; junior Mateo Miramontes, Nevada; and sophomore Josh Baker, Rice.