DENVER - Northern Colorado's Jensen Park and Bakersfield's James Barragan have been named Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for Mar. 30 - Apr. 5.
Park, a senior outfielder from Kaneohe, Hawai'I (Iolani School), posted three straight multi-hit games as Northern Colorado earned a three-game sweep on the road at New Mexico State. Posting no less than three hits in any game on the weekend, he totaled three doubles, six RBIs and eight runs scored, including a home run in Friday's 10-1 win. Park also stole a pair of bases in Saturday's 13-5 win.
Barragan, a senior right-hander from Bakersfield, Calif. (Stockdale HS), tied the Roadrunners' school record for most strikeouts in a game with 13 as Bakersfield defeated North Dakota, 12-1, on Friday. He scattered five hits over nine innings to earn the complete game win, allowing just one run with three walks against 35 batters faced. It was Barragan's second consecutive complete game victory within the week.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees: Grand Canyon's Greg Saenz was 8-for-11 on the week with four doubles as the Lopes swept past Texas-Pan American…Seattle U's Dalton Hurd hit .385 on the week as the Redhawks went 3-1, including three wins over Sacramento State…Utah Valley's Mark Krueger was 5-for-8 as the Wolverines swept past Chicago State in Orem…Bakersfield's Max Carter hit .545 on the week, including a perfect 3-for-3 in Friday's win at North Dakota...Texas-Pan American's Victor Garcia Jr. recorded his 10th and 11th multi-hit games of the season in losses at Grand Canyon…Sacramento State's Vinny Esposito hit .417, including 3-for-5 in the Hornets' extra-inning loss at Seattle U on Thursday.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees: Northern Colorado's Chase Cleary went 1-1 on the week, taking the loss at Air Force before bouncing back for the win at New Mexico State…Seattle U's Ted Hammond earned the win in Thursday's extra innings win against Sacramento State and then came in on Saturday to earn the save against the Hornets…Utah Valley's Kyle Valgardon pitched five innings of shutout relief in Friday's 7-6 win…Sacramento State's Ty Nichols allowed just two hits over six innings in Thursday's 3-2 extra inning loss at Seattle U.