Rutta and Shafer named Baseball Players of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS - UIC senior Chris Rutta and Valparaiso junior Bryce Shafer have been named Horizon League Baseball Players of the Week for the period of April 5-11. Rutta and Shafer both register their third career weekly honors from the League office.

Rutta picks up Batter of the Week accolades after going 10-for-16 (.625) with three homers, four doubles, eight runs and 10 RBI in four games last week. He also registered a 1.438 slugging percentage and .647 on-base percentage for the Flames.

The outfielder, a native of Rothschild, Wis., helped UIC score 52 runs in a three-game weekend sweep of Butler. Rutta also raised his season batting average from .329 to .381 during the stretch.

Shafer notches Pitcher of the Week honors after going 2-0 with a 1.35 ERA in two starts last week. He allowed just five walks and 10 hits over 13.1 innings while striking out 20.

The right-hander, a native of Wabash, Ind., helped Valparaiso take two of three from Youngstown State over the weekend. He scattered just two hits while fanning a season-high 13 in eight scoreless frames against the Penguins on Friday.

UIC (10-17, 6-3) and Valparaiso (11-18, 2-1) both return to the diamond on Tuesday at 8 p.m. ET. The Flames host Western Michigan at Les Miller Field, while the Crusaders meet Indiana at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, Ind.

Other Horizon League top performers (April 5-11)
Chuck Gasti, Cleveland State, Freshman, UTIL -- 3-2 record, 5 GP, 10-for-19, 10 R, 10 RBI, 1 2B, 2 3B, 5 HR
Tim Patzman, Milwaukee, Senior, OF -- 2-0 record, 2 GP, 4-for-6, 4 R, 8 RBI, 1 3B, 2 HR, 1 BB
Michael Heesch, UIC, Sophomore, LHP -- 3 App, 2-0, 0.96 ERA, 9.1 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 2 SO
Robbie Robinson, Valparaiso, Junior, C/OF -- 3-2 record, 5 GP, 9-for-18, 2 R, 6 RBI, 3 2B, 2 BB
Casey McGrew, Wright State, Senior, OF -- 2-2 record, 4 GP, 10-for-15, 7 R, 4 RBI, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB
Blake Aquadro, Youngstown State, Freshman, LHP -- 2 App, 1-0, 1.04 ERA, 8.2 IP, 5 H, 6 BB, 7 SO