Date Posted: 3/10/2008

MACON, Ga. - While Jacksonville and Belmont battled on the hardwood for the Atlantic Sun Men’s Basketball Championship, the two also took to the diamond and the Dolphins exerted a small amount of vengeance, sweeping a three-game set. Matt Dobbins excelled on the hill while Dan Maier raked at plate in earning the Atlantic Sun’s Pitcher of the Week and Player of the Week awards, the conference office announced on Monday. Through three weeks, the Dolphins have claimed four the six weekly awards.

After earning the first weekly honor of 2008 with a shutout against UNC Wilmington, Dobbins, a business management major, closed out the three-game sweep over Belmont on Sunday with his second gem of the season. Dobbins, a member of the A-Sun Preseason all-conference team, scattered five hits while walking one batter and striking out three in a season-high seven shutout innings. He also closed out the Dolphins' 10-5 win over No. 25 UCF on Tuesday by hurling an inning of scoreless relief.

A utility player through most of his career, junior Dan Maier mashed his way into the starting lineup last week after helping the Dolphins earn a split with No. 25 UCF and leading JU to its first sweep over Belmont to earn his first Player of the Week award. Maier, a geography major Coral Springs Fla., batted .615 (8-13) with two home runs, four RBI, 14 total bases, a 1.077 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage. In a 10-5 win over UCF, he went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit single as the Dolphins earned their first win over a ranked opponent in 2008. In game one against Belmont, he went 3-for-3 with three runs, two walks and his first career home run. In game two, he finished 3-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and his second home run of the series. In the finale, Maier went 1-for-4 but his RBI proved to be the game winner while increasing JU's first inning scoring streak to 11 games.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb 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

Richard Bleier, Florida Gulf Coast (Jr. – P – Davie, Fla. – Criminal Justice) Went 7.0 innings, allowed four hits and two unearned runs, and struck out eight vs Gardner-Webb

Robby Donovan, Stetson (So. – P – Royal Palm Beach, Fla. – Sports Management) Pitched 7.0 innings on the road and Ended LSU’s nine-game win streak to help the Hatters win 7-2

Scott Eckard, USC Upstate (Sr. – P – Lake Mary, Fla. – Business Administration) Recorded 19th career win, tying the 19-year old school record set by Eric Hunter

Andrew Hannon, UNF (So. – INF/OF – Jacksonville, Fla. – Business) Went 12-for-19 with 11 RBIs and six runs scored and a home run in leading the Ospreys to a 4-1 record

David Harden, Mercer (So. – P – Marietta, Ga. – Sport Management) Struck out a career-high 10 batters vs Florida A&M

Jason Peacock, Florida Gulf Coast (Sr. – 1B – Bartow, Fla. – business management) Collected at least one hit in each of six games; Hit .416 for the week

Related Links:
 • This Week in A-Sun Baseball