Date Posted: 6/16/2008

MACON, Ga. - In a stretch of six days, three Florida Gulf Coast baseball players showed why the Eagles captured the 2008 A-Sun regular season title by garnering Player of the Night honors in the Northwoods League. 

Outfielder Josh Upchurch, pitcher Chris Sale, and catcher Tim Roberson all captured the nightly award from June 8 through June 13.

On June 8, Upchurch helped his Alexandria Beetles to a 7-3 win over Saint Cloud with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, scoring two runs and swiping a pair of bases. In 16 games this season, Upchurch is hitting .328 with 12 stolen bases, 4 RBI and 11 runs scored. 

Two days later, Sale and his LaCrosse Loggers shut out Upchurch and the Beetles, 3-0. The lefty pitched brilliantly, allowing only four hits and striking out nine through eight innings en route to his second win of the young season. Sale owns the fourth-lowest ERA in the NWL (0.43) with a 2-1 record for the Loggers, who have won eight of their last 10.

On June 13, Roberson became the latest Eagle to garner the NWL's nightly award. Roberson, also a member of the Alexandria Beetles, ignited a 3-1 triumph over Brainerd with two doubles and a run scored. Hitting .343, Roberson has driven in four runs and leads the team with five doubles.  

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.

Related Links:
 • Northwoods League Player of the Night Archive