Milwaukee's Sivilotti, Valparaiso's Gulbransen named baseball Players of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS – Milwaukee senior Sam Sivilotti and Valparaiso senior Jon Gulbransen  have been named Horizon League Baseball Players of the Week for the period of May 16-22.

Sivilotti picked up Batter of the Week accolades after going 11-for-18 (.611) at the plate with seven RBIs and three runs on the week.  He helped Milwaukee to a 3-2 week, including 2-1 against Valpo to clinch the No. 3 seed in the Horizon League Championship.

The designated hitter, a native of Glendale, Wis., won Friday’s opener on a 10^th inning, two-out single, giving the Panthers a 4-3 win over the Crusaders.  He then drove in the tying run in the ninth inning on Saturday, helping UWM to a win in the 10^th.

Gulbransen notched Pitcher of the Week honors after earning his sixth win of the season and 18^th of his career as the Crusaders beat the Panthers in the regular season finale.

The left-hander, a native of Appleton, Wis. scattered four hits in five innings, and became Valpo’s career leader in innings pitched with 319.1.

The 2011 Horizon League Baseball Championship will begin on Wednesday with No. 4 Valparaiso and No. 5 Butler at 11am ET, followed by No. 3 Milwaukee and No. 6 Youngstown State at 3:05pm.  Top-seeded Wright State will host the double-elimination tournament at Nischwitz Stadium in Dayton, Ohio, May 25-28, with the possibility of an “if necessary” game on May 29. 

Other Horizon League top performers (May 9-15)
Mike Hoscheit, Butler, Jr, OF -- 1-3 record, 4GP, 7-for-14, 8 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B
Eric Semmelhack, Milwaukee, So, RHP -- 1 App, 3-2, 7.0 IP, 5 H, 8 SO
Jason Ganek, UIC, Sr, IF -- 2-2 record, 4GP, 6-for-11, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR
Robbie Robinson, Valparaiso, Sr, DH -- 1-2 record, 3GP, 8-for-12, 2 R, 5 RBI, 3 2B, 1 HR
Jake Hibberd, Wright State, Jr, IF -- 2-1 record, 3GP, 7-for-12, 2 R, 7 RBI, 2 2B, 1 HR
Casey Henn, Wright State, Jr, RHP -- 1 App, 2-1, 7.0 IP, 3 H, 5 SO