Baseball Release #8
April 14, 2008
Complete Release in PDF Format 
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee senior second baseman Jesse Hart collected his first Player of the Week award after he helped the Panthers to a 2-1 series victory over Cleveland State. Wright State University junior right-hander Rylan Ostrosky also picked up his first League honor as he was named Pitcher of Week following a pair of victories this past week.
Player of the Week
Jesse Hart, Milwaukee
Sr. * 2B * West Allis, Wis.
Hart led UWM to a 4-1 record last week after he hit .579 (11-for-19), including eight extra-base hits (six doubles/two home runs). Hart also scored nine runs, drove in 10 runs, slugged at a 1.211 clip, posted a .571 on-base percentage and did not make an error in 14 chances. Hart finished the week by hitting the game-winning RBI's in Sunday's 6-5 victory over Cleveland State.
Pitcher of the Week
Rylan Ostrosky, Wright State
Jr. * RHP * Alberta, Canada
Ostrosky collected a pair of victories this past week. In two appearances this week, he did not allow an earned run. On Tuesday against Urbana, Ostrosky tossed 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to collect his first collegiate victory with one strikeout. The WSU junior then returned to the mound on the road against Butler on Saturday and worked 6.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run. Against the Bulldogs, Ostrosky allowed only four hits and struck out four batters in the contest.
Other Top Performances for the Week Ending April 13
Grant Fillipitch, Butler
Fr. * 3B * LaGrange, Ill.
Fillipitch batted .529, posted a .882 slugging percentage and had a .526 on base percentage in four starts. He also became just the 11th player in Butler history to collect five hits in a game against Indiana Tech on Tuesday, going 5-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored. He followed up that performance with a 3-for-5 outing in the first game against Wright State on April 11, driving in a game-high five RBI.
Ryan Kruszka, Butler
Jr. * RHP * Elwood, Ill.
Kruszka worked eight innings against Wright State on April 11, scattering seven hits while allowing only a second-inning run putting the Bulldogs in line for a win upon his departure, but did not figure into the decision. The junior right-hander sat down the first two batters in seven of the eight innings while allowing more than one hit in only one of them.
Adam Heideman, Cleveland State
Fr. * RF * Stow, Ohio
Heideman batted .571 (12-21) with 10 runs, two doubles, one homer and drove in five runs in helping CSU to a 3-3 record last week. He had a hit in all six games, including four multiple hit games.
Adam Ferrell, Milwaukee
Sr. * P * Eau Claire, Wis.
In three appearances last week, Ferrell recorded a save and a victory. He threw a 1-2-3 inning for a save against Chicago State on Wednesday and then worked four innings of relief Sunday against Cleveland State to pick up the win. Against the Vikings, Ferrell allowed just two hits, struck out three and walked no one. He retired the side in order in three of four innings and limited opponents to a .143 batting average.
Jason Ganek, UIC
Fr. * 3B * Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Ganek hit .389 with four extra-base hits and five RBI last week, including a go-ahead three-run homer in the ninth inning at Central Michigan on Tuesday. The UIC rookie also scored five runs and stole a base.
Grant Kohlstaedt, UIC
Sr. * RHP * Kearney, Mo.
Kohlstaedt allowed three runs in the first inning against Youngstown State on Saturday, but settled down to go 6.2 innings and collect his fourth victory of the season.
Jeremy Hamilton, Wright State
Jr. * 1B * Cincinnati, Ohio
Hamilton posted a .409 batting average on the week in five starts and .636 in three games against Butler. The junior posted a hit in every game and drove in an RBI or scored a run in each contest. He also stole a base and posted a perfect fielding percentage in 38 chances.
Zach Rodeghero, Valparaiso
Sr. * OF * New Lenox, Ill.
Rodeghero hit .875 in the Crusaders' two games last week. He also extended his hitting streak to 10 straight games going 3-for-4 with a stolen base, a run scored, and an RBI at Notre Dame. In addition, the Valpo senior added a 4-for-4 performance with four runs batted in including a double in the Crusaders' 5-4 victory against Northern Illinois.
Eric Marzec, Youngstown State
So. * OF/P * Canton, Ohio
Marzec batted .350, scored seven runs in six games last week. He also hit a walk-off home run against League-leading UIC. Marzec's walk-off home run was YSU's first since April 17, 1999. Over the last 13 games, the YSU outfielder is batting .392 with 12 runs, 11 RBIs and six doubles.
Corey Vukovic, Youngstown State
So. * RHP * McDonald, Ohio
Vukovic won his second consecutive start against a League opponent when he defeated UIC on Saturday. He retired the first eight batters of the game, surrendered just five hits and held the Flames scoreless for the first five innings. In three League contests, Vukovic is 2-0, allowing two earned runs in 15.2 innings for a 1.15 ERA. He also has held opponents to a .200 batting average.
News From Around the League
UIC
The Flames (20-12 overall, 9-3 Horizon League) dropped three of five games last week. UIC opened the week with a 10-inning setback to Central Michigan (8-7) on Tuesday. The Flames would then rebound to defeat Rockford (10-3) on Wednesday before dropping two of three over the weekend to Youngstown State.Five of UIC's last eight games have been decided by just one run, while three of their last six have gone to extra innings.
Junior right-hander Derrick Miramontes has gone at least eight innings in each of his last three starts.
Three true freshmen have been UIC's hottest hitters the last two weeks. Rookie shortstop Rafael Garcia is leading the team during that span with a .371 (13-for-35) average, six walks and a .488 on-base percentage. First-year third baseman Jason Ganek has been nearly as hot at the plate with a .361 (13-for-36) average while driving in 10 runs. Freshman centerfielder Steve McGuiggan, UIC's leading hitter throughout the season, has been batting .359 (14-for-39) with four stolen bases and six runs batted in during the Flames' last 10 contests.
UIC visits Illinois State on Tuesday before traveling to Valparaiso (DH) on Friday. The Flames wrap up the week at home against Wright State (DH) on Sunday.
Wright State
The Raiders (15-15 overall, 7-4 Horizon League) went 4-1 last week with its lone loss coming at home to Cincinnati (9-5).
Wright State posted a series sweep of Butler over the weekend, capturing a 17-9 victory in the opening game before claiming a pair of one-run victories on Saturday. It was the first series sweep for WSU at Butler since taking a four-game meeting during the 1997 season.
Wright State won its first game of the season when trailing after eight innings against Butler on Saturday. The Raiders have won four games over the past four seasons when trailing after eight innings.
Since the move to the bullpen two weeks ago, freshman right-hander Michael Meintel has posted four saves in seven appearances with seven strikeouts.
Meintel has converted all four save opportunities during that time and the Raiders hold a 5-2 overall record in the games that Meintel has appeared in.
WSU infielder Justin Parker needs just four more RBI to become the 34th member of the 100 run-100 RBI club at Wright State. The junior currently has 103 runs scored and 96 RBI's during his three seasons with the Green and Gold.
Wright State will face Xavier (Tuesday) and Dayton (Wednesday) in a pair of midweek games before traveling to Valparaiso (DH) on Saturday and UIC (DH) on Sunday.
Youngstown State
The Penguins (12-20 overall, 5-4 Horizon League) went 3-3 last week and took two out of three games from first-place UIC at home for the second time in the last three years.
Dating back to 2004, YSU is 8-6 against the Flames at Eastwood Field, which includes a victory in the 2004 Horizon League Tournament.
With eight hits last week, senior Erich Diedrich upped his career hits total to 218. He needs just two more to move past Charles Schultz for fourth place on YSU's all-time list. Diedrich, who missed the first month of the season, is batting a team-best .333 with four doubles, a home run and 10 runs scored. He is also batting a team-best .375 against Horizon League opponents.
As a team, the Penguins are batting .311 in 12 games this month, and nine players are hitting above .280.
Each member of YSU's starting rotation ranks among the Horizon League leaders in individual ERA. Chuck Schiffhauer (2.85) ranks second in the circuit, Corey Vukovic ranks third (3.15) and Aaron Swenson is fourth (3.22).
YSU continues its busy April with six games this week in a five-day span. The Penguins open the week at home against Niagara on Tuesday before welcoming Ohio on Wednesday. YSU finishes out the week against Butler (DH) on Saturday and Milwaukee (DH) on Sunday.
Cleveland State
The Vikings (12-14 overall, 4-5 Horizon League) posted a 4-2 mark last week.
Cleveland State won all three of its non-League contests defeating Eastern Michigan (15-9) on Monday, Canisius (15-8) on Tuesday and Malone (8-4) on Wednesday. The Vikings then dropped two of three to Milwaukee over the weekend.
CSU is 1-7 in one-run games this season and has lost its last five games by one run, including two to Milwaukee over the weekend.
The Vikings tied a school-record with 24 runs in a 24-18 win over Milwaukee in the second game of Friday's doubleheader. The 24 runs tied the mark set against Gannon in a 24-4 win on May 9, 1968.
Senior infielder Alex Kerins and freshman outfielder Travis Miller drove in six runs against Milwaukee on Friday. Miller had four with his first career grand slam.
The Vikings are two wins shy of equaling their win total from all of last season (14), while head coach Kevin Kocks needs just five victories to reach 500 wins for his career.
Cleveland State returns to action on Tuesday against Kent State before traveling to Niagara on Wednesday. CSU will then return home for the remainder of the week as the play host to Tiffin on Friday, Milwaukee (DH) on Saturday and Butler (DH) on Sunday.
Milwaukee
The Panthers (9-21 overall, 4-5 Horizon League) went 4-1 last week with a 2-1 series victory over Cleveland State.
Milwaukee was scheduled to opened its home slate against Cleveland State this past weekend, but the weekend series against the Vikings was moved to UIC's field in Chicago, giving Milwaukee 30-straight games on the road to start the season.
Senior outfielder Nick Wichser improved his hitting streak to a League-high 22 games and is batting .471 in the stretch. He has gone 40-for-85, scoring 25 runs and driving in 24.
Fellow senior Jesse Hart has also raised his batting average 97 points in the past 12 games. He was batting .214 on March 23, but the UWM second baseman is now at .311 after going 22-for-49 in the past 12 games, driving in 19 while collecting 11 doubles and two home runs.
Hart has 16 doubles on the season and is on pace to break the UWM season (23) and career (he has 54, record is 58) marks for two-baggers.
Milwaukee will look to open its home schedule in a doubleheader against Bradley. Following its twinbill with the Braves, UWM will head to Ohio to faceoff against Cleveland State (DH) on Saturday before traveling to Youngstown State (DH) on Sunday.
Valparaiso
The Crusaders (12-20 overall, 5-4 Horizon League) played in just two games last week and went 1-1.
Valpo opened the week with a 8-6 defeat to Notre Dame on Tuesday before rebounding with a 5-4 victory against Northern Illinois on Wednesday.
The Crusaders were scheduled to play a doubleheader with Chicago State but both games were postponed.
Offensively for Valparaiso, senior outfielder Dan DeBruin highlighted the week with a .500 batting average (4-for-8). He also scored six times and added a double and triple.
On the mound, left-handed pitcher Jon Gulbransen earned his first collegiate victory against Northern Illinois.
The Crusaders return to action on Wednesday against Saint Francis (Ind.) on Wednesday before stepping back into League play against UIC (DH) on Friday and Wright State (DH) on Saturday.
Butler
The Bulldogs (7-20 overall, 3-9 Horizon League) went 1-3 last week with their lone victory coming against Indiana Tech (17-11).
Junior outfielder Colin Ziegel extended his season-long hitting streak to 10 games with hits in all four contests last week.
Junior lefty Joe Ochs gave up seven runs in four innings of work at No. 17 Kentucky in the season opener, but the Noblesville, Ind., native has gone the last 17 innings without allowing a single run, earned or unearned. During that time, he has won three games, struck out 10 and walked three.
Butler once again put itself in a position to score a couple of wins against a League opponent last weekend, battling Wright State in a pair of close games.
Junior Ryan Kruszka pitched the Bulldogs to a 4-1 lead heading into the ninth inning before WSU rallied for four to take the comeback win. Butler tried to return the favor in the second double-header contest, rallying from a 4-1 ninth-inning deficit to cut the gap to one, but the Bulldogs could get no closer.
Butler returns to action on Wednesday as it welcomes Cincinnati before heading to Northeast Ohio to play a pair of games against Youngstown State and Cleveland State.
Vikings explode for 24 runs
In Cleveland State's 24-18 victory over Milwaukee, the Vikings tied a school-record for runs scored in a game.
The Vikings, who scored runs in eight of the nine innings, matched the record set in a 24-3 win over Gannon on May 9, 1968. CSU also drove in a school-record 21 runs, breaking the old mark of 19 set against Gannon.
Alex Kerins and Travis each belted home runs in the Vikings' game two triumph. In 2008, CSU has hit a League-leading 27 home runs through 26 games to surpass its home run total of 24 from a year ago.
WSU closes in on UIC for first place
After losing three of its first four League contests to begin the season, Wright State has won its last five conference games to move into second place in the circuit.
The Raiders (7-4) are two wins behind first-place UIC (9-3), which dropped two of three last weekend to Youngstown State (5-4) on the road. With its 2-1 series victory over UIC, YSU moved into sole possession of third place in the League standings.
The 2008 Horizon League Baseball Championship, presented by the U.S. Army, is set for May 20-25 at Eastwood Field in Niles, Ohio.
