Monday, May 04, 2009

MACON, Ga. - UNF’s T.J. Thompson spearheaded an upset of nationally-ranked Miami and collected 10 hits during the week to earn A-Sun Player of the Week. FGCU’s Chris Sale silenced an ETSU offense that averaged more than 11 runs per game in its last 11 games to capture his second Pitcher of the Week award, the conference office announced on Monday.

In UNF's midweek upset of No. 11 Miami, Thompson went 3-for-4 with three RBI, two runs scored and a round tripper. The junior from Jacksonville, Fla., collected at least two hits in all four contests this past week and notched seven hits at Stetson in the weekend series. Thompson reached safely four times in six plate appearances in UNF's 11-9 Saturday win and finished with three hits, three runs scored, three RBI and a home run. The health administration major ended the week with a .714 on-base percentage and walked at least once in all four games.

Sale picked up the win in the second game of FGCU’s sweep of ETSU this past weekend. The sophomore from Lakeland, Fla., allowed one run on three hits going 7.0 innings with seven strikeouts. Sale had a perfect game threw four innings before the Bucs recorded a single in the fifth. The criminal justice major faced just two over the minimum as he improved his record to 7-3 on the year, tying Kennesaw State’s Chad Jenkins for the conference lead in victories..

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

Alex Aycoth, Campbell (Jr. - 3B - Sanford, Fla. -Business Administration) – Finished the week with a .444 batting average and five RBI as Campbell swept in-state foe N.C. State for the first time in school history. On Saturday, he finished a triple shy of the cycle.

Josh Chester, FGCU (Jr. - OF/1B - Weston, Fla. - Accounting) -- Extended his hitting streak 18 games as he went 9-for-20 (.450) last week with 10 RBI. Chester finished the week with eight runs scored, three doubles, and a home run as the Eagles went 4-0 with a win against FIU and a sweep at ETSU.

Jeremy Cruz, Stetson (Sr. - OF/1B - Miami, Fla. - Sports Management) -- Led Stetson to 4-1 record on the week. Hit .478 (11-23) with one double and eight RBI. Raised team-leading batting average to .387. Added to his A-Sun leading RBI total of 66.

Jeff Rydman, Campbell (Jr. - LHP - Gladstone, Mo. - Sport Management) -- Picked up his fifth win of the season on Friday as the Camels defeated NC State. Pitched 6.1 innings, allowing just three runs while fanning four.

Justin Sanders, Lipscomb (Sr. - 1B - Conyers, Ga. - Marketing) -- Hit four home runs including three vs Belmont. Had two home runs drove in four in 5-4 victory on Saturday’s first game and had three more RBI in game two win. His 10 home runs rank second on Lipscomb’s NCAA era single-season list.

Ian Thompson, Stetson (Jr. - LHP - St. Petersburg, Fla. - Business Administration) -- Appeared in all five of Stetson's games this week. Led team to a 4-1 record. Registered the win in series finale vs. UNF. Threw 5.2 innings allowing no runs and striking out five batters. Leads A-Sun in appearances with 29.