UIC's Grunenwald, YSU's Switka Named Baseball Players of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS -- UIC senior Alex Grunenwald and Youngstown State senior Robert Switka have been named Horizon League Baseball Players of the Week for the period of Feb. 18-24.

Grunenwald picked up Batter of the Week accolades after four of his five hits last weekend went for extra bases. He hit back-to-back home runs in UIC’s 5-3 win over Santa Clara on Friday and recorded seven of UIC’s 20 RBIs on the weekend as the Flames won the series over Santa Clara. For the series, the Merrill, Wis., native hit .357 with a 1.071 slugging percentage as he hit three home runs, one double.

The Flames (3-3) are back in action this weekend when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Vanderbilt.

Switka notched Pitcher of the Week honors after pitching five innings of one hit ball on Sunday. He allowed an infield single in the third inning and left the game with a 3-0 lead over Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons hit just .077 against him as he struck out two in his five innings of work.

Youngstown State heads south again this week as they start a four-game series with Charlotte on Friday.

Horizon League Batters of the Week
Feb. 11-17        Will Fadness, Milwaukee
Feb. 18-24        Alex Grunenwald, UIC

Horizon League Pitchers of the Week
Feb. 11-17        Tomas Michelson, UIC
Feb. 18-24        Robert Switka, Youngstown State