Monday, May 10, 2010

MACON, Ga. – FGCU’s Chris Sale picked up his third consecutive Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Week honor with another dominate performance while Tim Roberson earned Player of the Week honors as the Eagles locked up a spot in the A-Sun Championship.  

With the honor, Sale becomes the first player in Atlantic Sun history to earn three consecutive Pitcher of the Week honors. The Lakeland, Fla. native also becomes the first player since UCF’s Justin Pope in 2001 to earn four Pitcher of the Week honors in a single season. Sale and Roberson lead FGCU to a weekend sweep of ETSU and to the threshold of the Eagles’ third-consecutive conference regular season crown.  

Sale battled though food poisoning and celebrated the birth of his son with a shutout performance against ETSU, 10-0 (7 inn), Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. Fresh off of a stellar performance at No. 23 Clemson, the criminal justice major posted another noteworthy performance in the game one start. Improving his record to 8-0 on the year with the win, the junior lefty allowed no runs on four hits with 11 strikeouts and one walk. Sale owns 114 strikeouts on the season with just 12 walks in 82 innings pitched. In his past three starts, the Lakeland, Fla. native owns a record of 3-0 with a 0.75 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched, while allowing only nine hits.

Roberson led the Eagles to a three-game sweep of ETSU. Roberson's performance at the plate puts FGCU in the position to pickup its third consecutive A-Sun Regular Season Title. For the week, the West Palm Beach, Fla. native hit .471 with one double three homers (including two vs. ETSU) and nine RBIs. Roberson also recorded a slugging percentage of 1.059 and an on-base percentage of .474 for the week. The junior criminal justice major now leads the Eagles in runs scored, RBI, home runs and total bases.

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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          
Cameron Nelson, Campbell (Jr. - OF - Coral Springs, Fla. - Business Administration) - Nelson had his best weekend in a Campbell uniform as the junior went 10-for-15 with two doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. In the doubleheader on Saturday, the junior went 7-for-11 and collected ten RBIs. Nelson provided the spark to lift the Camels to the game three victory as he slammed a three RBI home run to right field in the sixth and continued a 13-run inning.

Jeff Rydman, Campbell (Sr. - LHP - Gladstone, Mo. - Sports Management) - Rydman set his career longest outing with 7.2 innings pitched as the lefty gave up just two hits while scattering 11 hits. The sports management major has now posted two straight quality starts and he struck out three while walking none as he registered the no decision.

Justin Preckajlo, UNF (Sr. - OF - Atlantic Beach, Fla. - Fine Arts) – Preckajlo batted .536 on the week, going 15-for-28 in seven games. The fine arts major hit four home runs, while adding a double for a team-best 1.000 slugging percentage on the week. Preckajlo led all Ospreys with 14 runs scored, while driving in an additional seven runs. The senior outfielder hit safely in all seven games, delivering multiple hits in five games. The Atlantic Beach Fla. native posted a home run on three consecutive days to start the week.

Brian Dempsey, USC Upstate (Sr. - OF - Montverde, Fla. - Physical Education) - Dempsey posted two-RBI triples in the third inning of Friday's game to help USC Upstate beat Stetson, 4-2, getting the Spartans on the board and later scored the winning run in the inning. The Montverde, Fla. native hit his first career homer in 364 career at bats, hitting an opposite field shot to left field in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. The senior led off the game with a drag bunt to help the Spartans' offense get going, coming around to score the game's first run.

Matt Branham, USC Upstate (Sr. - RHP - Columbia, S.C. - Criminal Justice) – Branham threw seven strong innings, allowing just two runs and six hits to help USC Upstate take a 4-2 win against Stetson Friday. Branham (4-3) strengthened as the game wore on, striking out four in his last two innings. The senior finished with seven punch outs and two walks in his seven frames, tossing 108 pitches.