Milwaukee's Kraft, Cleveland State's Bates earn baseball weekly awards

INDIANAPOLIS – Milwaukee senior Cole Kraft and Cleveland State senior Coty Bates have been named Horizon League Baseball Players of the Week for the period of May 2-8.

Kraft picked up Batter of the Week accolades after going 9-for-18 (.500) at the plate with five RBIs and nine runs to help Milwaukee win the series with Youngstown State and pick up wins over Wisconsin Lutheran and Iowa.  He also registered a .833 slugging percentage and .609 on-base percentage for the Panthers.

The infielder, a native of Monomonie, Wis., made a huge impact in game two against the Penguins as the senior tied the game with a home run in the eighth inning and then scored the game-winner for the Panthers in the tenth inning. 

Bates notched Pitcher of the Week honors after helping the Vikings win the series with Butler last weekend.

The right-hander, a native of Alliance, Ohio, gave up one run and one walk, but struck out ten against the Bulldogs on Saturday.  He pitched six shutout innings before leaving the game after the seventh inning.   

Cleveland State will return to action on Friday as it hosts UIC in a 12:00pm ET game, while Milwaukee will head to Valparaiso on Saturday for a 1pm ET start.

Other Horizon League top performers (May 2-8)
Pat Guinane, Butler, Fr, IF -- 1-2 record, 3GP, 5-for-9, 2 R, 2 RBI
Dom Silvestri, Butler, Sr, RHP -- 1 App, 1-2, 7.2 IP, 1 W, 7 H, 2 SO
Tom Carter, Cleveland State, Sr, IF -- 2-3 record, 5GP, 10-for-18, 6 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B
Kaleb Engelke, Milwaukee, Jr, LHP -- 1 App, 4-1, 3.2 IP, 1 W, 1 H, 4 SO
Michael Morman, Valparaiso, Fr, IF -- 1-3 record, 4GP, 8-for-15, 2 R, 5 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR
Damon McCormick, Valparaiso, Sr, RHP -- 1 App, 1-3, 9.0 IP, 1 W, 8 H, 3 SO
Jake Hibberd, Wright State, Jr, IF -- 3-1 record, 4GP, 9-for-20, 4 R, 6 RBI, 3 2B, 2 HR
Michael Meintel, Wright State, Sr, RHP -- 1 App, 3-1, 6.2 IP, 2 H, 3 SO
Jeremy Banks, Youngstown State, Jr, IF -- 1-3 record, 4GP, 7-for-19, 4 R, 7 RBI, 1 2B, 2 HR
Phil Klein, Youngstown State, Sr, RHP -- 1 App, 1-3, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 7 SO