PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly baseball honors for the week ending March 31.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gunnar Troutwine * Sr. * C * Wichita State
Troutwine was a force at the plate through a 2-2 week for the Shockers, batting .583 with seven hits, five RBIs, two home runs and a pair of runs scored. He helped Wichita State to a win in its American Athletic Conference opener, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and a home run in a 14-3 victory at No. 16 ECU. He hit his second home run of the series in Game 2 and went 2-for-4 in Game 3. Troutwine also had a perfect fielding percentage behind the plate in 27 total chances.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Mason Feole * So. * LHP * UConn
Feole had a dominant performance on Friday, tossing seven shutout innings and fanning a career-high 13 batters on the way to a 6-1 win over Central Connecticut in the Huskies’ second home game of the year. The sophomore southpaw scattered three singles, while only allowing one walk. UConn had a 4-0 week in nonconference action.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Manny Rodriguez * Sr. * SS * Cincinnati
Rodriguez had a hit in all three games to help his side to a series win over No. 30 Houston. Each of his hits went for extra bases, as he delivered two doubles and a home run in the three games. Rodriguez recorded an RBI in both of Cincinnati’s wins with each game coming down to the final two runs.
Tyler Smith * So. * RHP * ECU
Smith shut out No. 18 Wichita State through 7.1 innings of work, striking out five batters and walking one. He scattered five hits, as ECU won the rubber match, 5-0 to clinch the weekend series. The sophomore righty held the Shockers’ top of the order hitless (0-for-14) and retired their offense in order four times through his career-long 7.1 innings pitched.
Trey Cumbie * Jr. * LHP * Houston
Cumbie enjoyed another strong outing on Thursday, pitching 8.0 innings and striking out 10 batters to guide the Cougars to a 4-2 Game 1 win against Cincinnati. He allowed four hits, two earned runs and walked one. Cumbie has fanned at least 10 batters in four of his seven appearances this season.
Kyle Phillips * Jr. * OF * USF
Phillips led an explosive offense that averaged 8.6 runs through a series win over Tulane. He batted .500 (7-for-14) with four runs scored, two RBIs, two doubles, a home run and an .857 slugging percentage. He had at least one hit in four games over the week, including a 4-for-5 performance with two RBIs and two runs scored in a 14-3 Game 2 win against the Green Wave.
Kaleb Roper * R-Jr. * RHP * Tulane
Roper matched his career-long outing, throwing 8.0 innings and striking out a career-best 10 batters to help his team defeat USF 3-2 on Thursday. He allowed one earned run, two walks and scattered six hits. Roper retired 14 of 15 batters after the third inning.