TicketSmarter WAC Baseball Hitter and Pitcher of the Week Announced
DENVER – California Baptist's Chad Castillo and UT Rio Grande Valley's Kevin Stevens have been named TicketSmarter Western Athletic Conference Hitter and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for April 4 – April 10.
Castillo, a junior outfielder from Santa Ana, Calif., became the first Lancer since 2006, and the first WAC player this season, to hit for the cycle as he went 4-for-7 with six RBIs and three runs scored in a 21-4 win at Air Force on Saturday. On the week, he had at least two hits in every game, including three three-hit performances. He also recorded three doubles at Air Force on Friday and finished the week with six doubles and 10 RBIs to go along with a .571 batting average and 1.095 slugging percentage.
Stevens, a senior right-hander from Tucson, Ariz., recorded his second-career shutout and fourth-career complete game in a 10-0 win over Stephen F. Austin on Friday. On the mound for all eight innings, he scattered five hits while striking out seven 'Jacks and walking just one. It was his third start without allowing a run this season.
Other Hitter of the Week nominees: Dixie State's Shane Taylor hit safely in all four games, including a 1-for-2 afternoon with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored in a 7-5 win over Brigham Young … Grand Canyon's Tyler Wilson homered in the first three games and finished the week 14-for-23 from the plate, including a 5-for-5 game at Dixie State on Saturday … Lamar's Matthew McDonald went 5-for-5 with a home run, three RBIs and three runs cored in the Cardinals' series-clinching win over Tarleton … NM State's Tommy Tabak hit safely in each of NM State's four games, finishing the week with a .500 average and 1.083 slugging percentage … Sacramento State's Cesar Valero helped the Hornets to a series win at NM State, going 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored in Sunday's series-clinching victory … Sam Houston's Carlos Contreras hit safely in all four games on the week, including 9-for-14 with nine RBIs in a series sweep of Abilene Christian … Tarleton's London Green compiled eight hits and 12 RBIs, including two home runs and six RBIs in Sunday's win over Lamar … UT Rio Grande Valley's Brett Cain recorded his first-career multi-home run game on Saturday against Stephen F. Austin … Utah Valley's Trey Cutchen was 8-for-18 on the week to help the Wolverines earn a midweek win over Utah and a series win over Seattle U.
Other Pitcher of the Week nominees: California Baptist's Brandon Downer had yet another strong start for the Lancers, scattering five hits over 6.1 innings to earn the victory in a 21-4 win at Air Force … Grand Canyon's Daniel Avitia struck out 12, the most by a GCU pitcher since 2004, to pick up the win at Dixie State on Saturday … Lamar's Braxton Douthit posted a win in his lone start of the week, allowing one run over 5.1 innings in a 4-1 victory at Tarleton … NM State's Cam Blazek tossed five scoreless innings, striking out five in a no-decision on Friday night … Sacramento State's Eli Saul won his second-straight start with four strikeouts and three runs allowed on three hits over 6.0 innings in a 6-5 win at NM State on Friday … Sam Houston's Matt Dillard struck out eight and walked just one while scattering four hits over six innings to earn the decision in a 21-0 win at Abilene Christian … Utah Valley's Coop Rust tossed six strong innings at Seattle, allowing just two runs, only one earned, to earn the victory in a 14-2 win.