Monday, March 07, 2011

MACON, Ga. – Kennesaw State’s Ronnie Freeman extended the nation’s longest active hit streak to 40 in a conference season-opening sweep against Campbell to earn the Atlantic Sun’s Player of the Week award. Belmont sophomore Chase Brookshire shut down the potent Mercer offense to win the A-Sun’s Pitcher of the Week award, the conference announced on Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Ronnie Freeman, Kennesaw State (C – So. – Lawrenceville, Ga. – Exercise and Health Science)

• Second A-Sun Player of the Week award
• Extended the nation's longest hitting streak to 40 games
• Went 5-for-10 in the Owls sweep of Campbell
• Just one game shy of tying former Owl and Texas Rangers outfielder Jason Jones for the programs record
• Freeman went 2-for-3 in both ends of a Sunday doubleheader

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Ben Carhart (IF, Stetson) - Led Stetson to four wins including a 3-0 record in the Bright House Invitational; In the tournament he hit .538 with a 3-run home run and eight RBI
• Kyle Dahl (C, UNF) – Hit .42, going 8-for-19 with three doubles and two home runs; Had at least one hit in each game; Scored a career high three runs against Georgia Southern
• Blake Green (OF, USC Upstate) – Posted a pair of multi-hit games (at Wofford, vs ETSU) and finished the week with a .467 batting average Went 4-for-6 against the Terriers
• Derek Hamblen (2B/LF, Belmont) - Led Belmont at the plate, recording a .400 average; Tallied six hits, three runs, and two walks
• Ellis Lowe (IF, Campbell) - Became Campbell's all-time hits leader at East Carolina, posting three hits to take top honors; Hit .471 in four games last week
• Zach Maxfield (1B, FGCU) - Week was highlighted by a 3-for-5 night in a win at UNF; Doubled and hit two home runs and finished with three runs scored and three RBI
• Jonathan Murphy (OF, Jacksonville) - As JU went 3-1, he finished .500 (9-18) with a double, a triple, four RBI, a .667 slugging percentage and a .550 on-base percentage
• Dylan Pratt (OF, ETSU) - His two-run home run put the Bucs up 7-5 in the eighth against UNC Asheville; Delivered an RBI single in the 10th inning for a 5-4 lead at USC Upstate
• Jacob Tanis (3B, Mercer) - Had a monster week to help the Bears to a 3-1 week. Recorded two 4-RBI games to tie teammate Joe Winker for the conference lead with 22

PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Chase Brookshire, Belmont (SP – So. – Chattanooga, Tenn. – Business Administration)

• First A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award
• Led Belmont to its only win of the week, defeating defending A-Sun Champion Mercer 2-1
• Allowed only one run on six hits, while striking out eight in 7.1 innings
• In his last two starts, owns a 2-0 record and allowed only two runs in 13.1 innings
• Beat Mississippi State in start prior to the Mercer outing

OTHER NOMINEES:

• Josh Carr (SP, Kennesaw State) - Pitched seven innings and allowed just two runs on four hits in defeating Campbell; struck out a season-high seven batters
• Scott DeCecco (SP, Stetson) - Recorded second straight quality start as he pitched six complete innings against ETSU allowing just one run
• Steve Eagerton (SP, Jacksonville) - Continued following the script for "Comeback Player of the Year" by defeating Wagner; Allowed one run and scattered three hits in seven innings
• Austin Gaines (RP, FGCU) - Pitched a scoreless ninth against Michigan to earn the save; Tossed five scoreless innings of relief in deciding game at UNF, earning the win
• Brandon Love (SP, Mercer) - Threw eight shutout innings in a 9-0 Mercer win at Belmont; Pitched gem on his 21st birthday to pick up his third win of the season
• Scott McNally (RP, ETSU) - Was stellar out of the bullpen throwing four scoreless innings and improved to 4-0; Threw three
• scoreless innings of against USC Upstate

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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 five 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.