PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly baseball honors for the week ending March 4.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
David Villar * Jr. * 3B * USF
Villar was a force at the plate, collecting 12 hits—including nine for extra bases, to help the Bulls to a 4-1 week. The junior third baseman batted .600 and had at least one base knock in all five games with six doubles, three home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1.350 slugging percentage. He recorded three or more hits in three different games.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Shane McClanahan * R-So. * LHP * USF
McClanahan threw for 6.0 innings, striking out a season-high 12 batters and scattering three hits and an unearned run to earn the victory in a 13-1 series-opening win against Columbia on Friday night. Through three games and 18 innings pitched this year, McClanahan has not allowed an earned run.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Rylan Thomas * So. * 1B * UCF
Thomas hit two home runs with a .750 slugging percentage and nine RBIs through a 4-0 week for the Knights. He hit a walk-off home run on Friday night in a 6-3 win over Wagner and went 3-for-5 with three RBIs on Sunday’s series finale.
Kyle Mottice * Sr. * 2B * Cincinnati
Mottice batted .500 (10-for-20) through a 4-1 week, recording four multi-hit games. He scored seven runs and held a .545 on-base percentage to lead the Bearcats.
Chris Holba * Jr. * RHP * ECU
Holba recorded his third win of the year after tossing seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts against Saint Joseph’s. Holba has not allowed a run in 18.2 innings and has struck out 24 while walking just two.
Keagan Gillies * So. * RHP * Tulane
Gillies pitched a career-high 7.0 innings and struck out five batters, allowing one run on four hits and one walk in Tulane’s 9-3 win over Cal State Fullerton on Sunday. He earned his first career win in his longest career outing. Gillies retired the final 12 batters he faced.
Alec Bohm * Jr. * 3B * Wichita State
Bohm led the Shockers’ offense to a series win over Nebraska, recording seven runs, three home runs (two grand slams) and nine RBIs. He homered in each game of the series and hit grand slams in Games 1 and 3. Wichita State has won each of its three series this season.