Monday, May 09, 2011

MACON, Ga. – Stetson’s Nick Rickles paced the Hatter offense to a sweep at FGCU while ETSU’s Derek Bushey shut out ACC foe NC State to win the Atlantic Sun’s Player and Pitcher of the Week awards, the conference announced on Monday.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
Nick Rickles, Stetson (C – Jr. – Loxahatchee, Fla. – Sports Management)

• Second A-Sun Player of the Week award this season
• Hit .462 (7-for-12) with a home run and six RBI as Stetson swept FGCU
• Hit a two-run home run to cap a six-run rally ninth-inning rally in game two of the series
• Led Hatters to fourth series sweep and eighth A-Sun series win in as many attempts
• Helped Stetson become first school to clinch an A-Sun Championship berth

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Andy Chriscaden (1B, Kennesaw State) – Hit .500 with a home run and four RBI
• Branden Milhouse (IF, USC Upstate) – Hit .545 in three-game series at Kennesaw State
• Nate Woods (DH, Belmont) – Hit .667 with three doubles in doubleheader vs Murray State
• Derek Trent (C, ETSU) – Hit .400 with two home runs as ETSU won series at NC State

PITCHER OF THE WEEK:
Derek Bushey, ETSU (SP – So. – Richmond, Va. – Exercise Science)

• First A-Sun Pitcher of the Week award
• Tossed a two-hit complete game shutout against NC State
• Clinched the Bucs’ series win against the Wolfpack
• Faced just four batters over the minimum with six strikeouts and three walks
• Allowed just one NC State runner to reach second base in the contest
• Recorded his first career shutout and tossed his third complete game in his last five outing

OTHER NOMINEES:
• Josh Carr (SP, Kennesaw State) – Shut out USC Upstate while recording eight strikeouts
• Jake Waller (RP, USC Upstate) – In three appearances, allowed just one run, earned a save
• Nate Woods (SP, Belmont) – Earned win against Murray State in a combined shutout

Follow the Atlantic Sun on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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.