Monday, February 22, 2010

MACON, Ga. - FGCU’s Austin Gaines led the Eagles to a sweep to earn Atlantic Sun Player of the Week while Scott McNally helped ETSU to a 2-1 weekend, including an upset of No. 34 Kansas State to earn the pitcher of the week award.

In his first game as an Eagle, Gaines went 1-for-4 with a run scored. In game two of the Temple series, he finished 4-for-4, scored three runs and drove in three. The junior leftfielder went 3-for-3 with three RBI in the final game of the Temple series as No. 25 FGCU finished the opening weekend with a perfect 3-0 record. Gaines hit .727, scored five runs, drove in six runs, and had a slugging percentage of 1.091. He also tallied eight hits, a pair of doubles and a triple.

McNally threw two scoreless innings for ETSU against The Citadel in his college debut. The Marietta, Ga. came back in the second game against 34th ranked Kansas State and threw a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts not allowing a hit or walk to earn his first win of the season. McNally then picked up his second win of the weekend against Delaware, throwing 1.1 innings of scoreless relief to close out the game as the Bucs won in walk-off fashion. On the weekend, McNally made three appearances going 2-0 not allowing a run in 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and one walk.

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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
Derek Hamblen, Belmont (Jr. - Outfielder - Plano, Texas - Business) – Hamblen hit .500 (7-14) with 4 RBI as Belmont swept Evansville in three games to begin the season. The junior outfielder had a multiple hits in each game, including three hits in game one of Saturday's double-header. Hamblen also went 2-for-3 with two RBIs in the season opener.

Paul Hoilman, ETSU (Jr. - Infielder - Johnson City, Tenn. - Math) – At The Citadel Memorial Challenge, Hoilman hit .462 (6-for-13) with two doubles, two home runs, six RBIs, slugged 1.077 and scored five runs on the weekend. The Johnson City, Tenn. native led the Bucs in the win against No. 34 Kansas State with a two-run home run in the third and then drove in the winning run in the top of the ninth on a two-run double to center. Hoilman continued his hot streak at the plate against Delaware on Sunday, going 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run home run.

Riche Erath, FGCU (Jr. - RHP - West Palm Beach, Fla. - Business Management) – Erath went 1-0 last week, leading FGCU to a 10-0 win versus Temple. The junior right hander entered the Friday’s game with the Owls after Chris Sale threw first two innings. Erath pitched 6.0 innings, surrendering only three hits. The West Palm Beach, Fla. native fanned six batters as he combined with Sale and C.J. Evans for the four-hit shutout

Billy Burns, Mercer (So. - CF - Marietta, Ga. - Business) – Burns posted a .750 batting average, nine hits, six runs scored and tallied an .850 on-base percentage. The Marietta, Ga. native went 9-of-12 in his first four games of the season from the leadoff position in the lineup and stole five bases in just four games.

Ryan Newell, USC Upstate (Fr. - RHP - Marietta, Ga. - Business Administration) – Newell entered Saturday's 6-3 win against Presbyterian with no outs and a runner on second in the sixth inning and proceeded to strikeout the side, preserving a 6-3 lead. The freshman pitcher gave up no hits and allowed just two walks during his outing while picking up his first collegiate save.