PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly baseball honors for the week ending March 12.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kevin Merrell • Jr. • INF • USF
Merrell led the Bulls in hitting over a 5-0 week, batting .526 (10-for-19) collecting a hit in all five games, including multi-hit games three times, and leading the Bulls with seven RBIs and 10 runs scored. Against Villanova, Merrell finished 4-for-5 with five RBIs and two home runs. Merrell also finished with three stolen bases and only struck out once.
AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE PITCHER OF THE WEEK
John King • Sr. • LHP • Houston
King propelled the Cougars to a 2-0 win over No. 10 Baylor with his second complete game of the year. King had his first-career complete game shutout at Houston throwing 71 pitches in the nine-inning outing and only allowing three hits, while striking out five Bears.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Rylan Thomas • Fr. • INF • UCF
Thomas led UCF to a sweep over Central Michigan by hitting .727 (8-for-11) in the three game series. Thomas hit four home runs and had 12 RBIs including a two-home run, seven RBI outing in game one of the series. The freshman also picked up a win on the mound, throwing a scoreless ninth inning in the series finale.
Andrew Zellner • Sr. •RHP • Cincinnati
Zellner helped Cincinnati to a 2-1 win over No. 25 Tennessee with a six-inning outing only allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out three Volunteers.
Spencer Brickhouse • Fr. • 1B • East Carolina
Brickhouse had a career day at College of Charleston where the freshman had three hits, two home runs and three RBIs against the Cougars. For the week, Brickhouse finished with a .421 batting average (8-for-19) and hit home runs in consecutive at-bats against College of Charleston.
Connor Alexander • Jr. • RHP • Memphis
Alexander threw 7.1 innings against Southern Illinois and held the Salukis to one unearned run and only four hits in Memphis’ 2-1 win in 13 innings. Alexander struck out four while issuing no walks in the no-decision.
Phoenix Sanders • Sr. • RHP • USF
Sanders threw seven innings allowing five hits and striking out 10 batters in an 11-2 win over Villanova. Sanders did not allow a run, lowering his ERA to 1.78 on the season.