PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The American Athletic Conference has announced the winners of the league’s weekly baseball honors for the week ending May 12.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alec Burleson * So. * OF/1B/LHP * ECU
Burleson picks up his second-straight and third overall American Player of the Week award after a strong outing on the mound and at the plate during a 3-1 week. Burleson hit .400 (6-for-15) with seven RBIs and two runs scored, while earning a pitching win against No. 11 North Carolina on Tuesday. Burleson hit in each game, registering two RBIs against the Tar Heels and a 3-for-4 outing with four RBIs in a 6-1 series-opening win over Wichita State, as ECU clinched its first outright American regular season title Friday night. In his start on Tuesday against North Carolina, he scattered one run on two hits and two walks with four strikeouts. After driving in a run with an RBI double, Burleson closed the series against the Shockers on Sunday, tossing the final 0.2 innings with a punch out to seal the win.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Clayton McGinness * Sr. * RHP * Wichita State
McGinness threw his first-career complete game in a 3-1 win over No. 8 ECU Saturday evening. The senior righthander scattered one run on five hits and a walk through nine innings of work, throwing 103 pitches in his outing. Retiring the side in order five times, McGinness didn’t issue a walk until the ninth inning, ending the game with four strikeouts.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Korren Thompson * Jr. * LHP * Cincinnati
Thompson recorded two saves in both of the Bearcats’ wins over Memphis. Thompson shut the door with three strikeouts in the final 1.2 innings to secure a 7-4 win in the series opener Friday and tossed a clean ninth in Sunday’s 4-2 rubber-match victory for his second save of the weekend. He totaled 3.1 innings with one run on two hits, two walks and four strikeouts in three appearances.
Derrick Cherry * Fr. * DH * Houston
Cherry posted a pair of three-hit efforts in a key series win over Tulane. The rookie went 6-for-11 (.545) with a home run, four RBIs, three walks and three runs scored. Cherry slugged .818 and drove in a run in each of the three games over the weekend.
Ryan Randel * Sr. * RHP * Houston
Randel went a career-long 7.1 innings in Sunday’s 5-2 series-clinching victory over Tulane. Facing The American’s top offense, the senior righthander scattered three hits, three walks and two unearned runs, while fanning five batters.
Alec Wisely * Sr. * RHP * USF
Wisely went 7.0 innings to help USF sweep Saturday’s doubleheader at UConn in a 3-1 Game 2 victory. He allowed one run on four hits and earned the win. Wisely walked two and struck out three during his outing.
Kody Hoese * Jr. * 3B * Tulane
Hoese extended his American home runs lead to 23 with a pair of long balls in Saturday’s series opener at Houston. Hoese went 2-for-4 in that game with three RBIs and followed with a 3-for-5 showing, two RBIs and three runs scored in Game 2 of a Saturday doubleheader. The junior third baseman ended the week slugging .857 and batting .429 (6-for-14) with five RBIs, five runs scored and four walks. He had a hit in three of four games on the week.