Monday, February 23, 2009

MACON, Ga. - UNF opened the 2009 baseball season by splitting its four games in the BankFirst Baseball Challenge, but stellar individual efforts from first baseman Ryan Puskar and left-handed starter John Atteo netted the teammates the opening Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week awards, the conference office announced on Monday.

Puskar, a business major from Auburndale, Fla., ripped a pair of grand slam home runs on Sunday in games against Northern Illinois and Mississippi State. Both round trippers gave the Ospreys the lead. The junior finished the day with nine RBIs and a double. For the weekend, Puskar tallied five hits, three of which were extra-base hits. He also scored five times and had three walks.

Atteo, a junior from Lake Worth, Fla., picked up his second career complete game on Sunday when he led UNF to a 9-3 win against Northern Illinois in Starkville, Miss. The criminal justice major struck out four and scattered 10 hits while allowing three runs, two of which were earned.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Other Top Performers

Justice French, Mercer (So. - P - Suwanee, Ga. - Undeclared) -- In his first career start, Mercer sophomore right hander Justice French gave the Bears all they could ask for, limiting Liberty to three hits and two runs over 6.0 innings in a 3-2 loss on Sunday. The Suwanee, Ga. native gave Mercer its best start of the weekend in the no-decision against the Flames, who claimed the title at the 24th Annual Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala. French held Liberty to a .158 batting average and struck out two batters. The Bears’ busiest reliever in 2008 with 27 appearances had never pitched more than 3.2 innings prior to Sunday.

Ryan Hamme, Campbell (Sr. - 1B - Wilmington, N.C. - Business Administration) -- Ryan Hamme had a strong week in the field and at bat. Hamme recorded a win on Friday, to compliment his weekend batting/fielding statistics. He was one of the leaders for the Camels as they moved to 3-0 on the season.

Paul Hoilman, ETSU (So. - 1B - Johnson City, Tenn. - Pre-Med.) -- Hoilman led the ETSU offensive attack as the Bucs swept Evansville in a snow shortened series. The Johnson City native went 4-for-7 with two walks, scored five runs, drove in two runs, and had a double and a home run. Hoilman slugged an outstanding 1.143 in the series and had a .600 on base percentage.

Phillip Myers, USC Upstate (Sr. - P - Louisville, Ky. - Marketing) -- Coming into a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the third inning on Saturday night against SIU Edwardsville, he surrendered just one run to allow the Cougars to take a 5-4 lead ... From there, he was brilliant, tossing four more scoreless innings and allowing Upstate to score 11 runs while he was in the game to take his first win of the season ... Scattered three hits and a walk while striking out four, retiring five in a row at one point.

Jimmy Stanley, Belmont (Sr. - P - Lexington, Ky. - Business Administration) -- Earned saves in both of Belmont's victories over Illinois State over the weekend. He gave up no runs, no hits, no walks and posted two strikeouts in three appearances. He now has 10 saves for his career, which is sixth all-time in Belmont history.

Jacob Tanis, Mercer (Fr. - 3B - Peachtree City, GA - Business) -- Mercer freshman third baseman Jacob Tanis made a substantial contribution in his first three games wearing the orange and black. The Peachtree City, Ga. native led Mercer’s offense on opening weekend, hitting .500 (5-10) with a home run and four RBI, three of which came in MU’s 13-11 upset of No. 6 Ole Miss at the 24th Annual Coca-Cola Classic in Mobile, Ala. A business major, Tanis drove home a run in his first at-bat as a Bear in a 9-2 loss against tournament-host, South Alabama. He seized the opportunity in his first career start against Ole Miss on Saturday, torching Rebel hurlers in going 3-for-5 with three RBI, a home run and two runs scored. He also performed flawlessly in the field in five chances.