Historical showing guides Roberts to second OVC Pitcher of the Week honors
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A historical showing on the hill proved enough for Tennessee Tech closer Ethan Roberts to claim his second adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors of the year Monday, sharing the weekly award with Southeast Missouri’s Justin Murphy.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – A historical showing on the hill proved enough for Tennessee Tech closer Ethan Roberts to claim his second adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week honors of the year Monday, sharing the weekly award with Southeast Missouri's Justin Murphy.
A native of nearby Sparta, Tenn., Roberts was dominant in two relief outings last week, including tallying the final three outs in a 5-2 victory at No. 19 Vanderbilt on Tuesday. In that game Roberts struck out the final batter of the game to pick up his ninth save of the season against the nationally-ranked Commodores.
On Friday against Murray State he broke a program record by striking out nine consecutive batters to earn his 10th save of the year. The Tennessee Tech sophomore covered the final 3.1 innings, allowing no hits and walking one while striking out all 10 batters he retired.
For the week he allowed just one hit, walked two and struck out 11 in 4.1 innings as he moved into first place in the OVC in saves. He has helped the league-leading Golden Eagles to a 29-9 overall and 16-2 OVC record so far this season.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brock Weimer, C • 6-0, 185, So. • Edwardsville, Ill. • SIUE
In four games last week Weimer hit .545 (6-for-11) with six runs scored, six home runs, 12 RBI, a 2.182 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage for SIUE. The sophomore started the week by hitting a solo home run and a three-run home run against Bradley; he drove in four runs on the night for the Cougars. After going hitless in the first game of the Morehead State series, he hit two solo home runs in Friday's game against the Eagles and capped the week with two more long balls in the series finale. Saturday's game included his second grand slam of the season as the catcher finished the day with six RBI. Weimer currently has 13 home runs on the season, the second-most in SIUE Division I single-season history (and third in all years). He currently ranks third in the OVC in home runs and fourth in each RBI (41) and slugging (.786).
Others Nominated: Chase Hamilton, Austin Peay; Nick Egli, Belmont; Frankie Perrone, Eastern Illinois; Ryland Kerr, Eastern Kentucky; Clayton Daniel, Jacksonville State; Niko Hulsizer, Morehead State; Alex Junior, Tennessee Tech.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Justin Murphy, RHP • 6-2, 180, Sr. • Kingdom City, Mo. • Southeast Missouri
Murphy tossed nine shutout innings in a 1-0 victory over Jacksonville State on Friday. The senior recorded the first complete game of the season for Southeast Missouri in scattering eight hits, walking only one (which came with two outs in the ninth) and striking out five. Murphy stranded seven JSU batters on base and faced the minimum in three of his nine innings. Only one batter would reach third base during the game. Murphy currently ranks fourth in the OVC in innings pitched (56.1) and seventh in E.R.A. (4.15).
Others Nominated: Tyler Vaughn, Belmont; Michael McCormick, Eastern Illinois; Caleb Johnson, Eastern Kentucky; Joe McGuire, Jacksonville State.
Photo by Tony Marable
