WSU's Fucci, UWM's Langley Notch Baseball Weekly Awards

INDIANAPOLIS -- Wright State junior outfielder Ryan Fucci [Lexington, Ky./Tates Creek (Northwest Florida State JC)] has been named the Horizon League Batter of the Week, while Milwaukee left-hander Justin Langley (Beloit, Wis./Clinton) is the League’s Pitcher of the Week, for the week of Feb. 23-March 1. The accolades are the first of both players’ careers.

Wright State (5-4) was a handful of outs from collecting a sweep at No. 11 Miami, dropping Friday and Saturday games in walk-off fashion before cruising to a 12-6 win in the series finale. Milwaukee (5-3) started its swing through Arizona by splitting a four-game set at Grand Canyon.

At Miami, Fucci continued his torrid start to the spring, going 6-for-12 at the plate. The junior opened the series by nearly hitting for the cycle, finishing a single shy of the feat in a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Fucci drove in four runs in the 8-7 setback.

In game two of the series, Fucci was 1-for-4 at the plate before notching one of his two runs scored in the Raiders’ 12-6 victory on Sunday. In the series, Fucci posted a 1.571 OPS.

Through nine games, Fucci is 17-for-34 at the plate, driving in 15 and clubbing four homers. All three totals (hits, RBI, home runs) lead the Horizon League.

After an injury-shortened 2014, Langley extended his strong start to 2015, going six innings without allowing an earned run in Milwaukee’s 11-1 win over Grand Canyon. In six innings of work, Langley allowed just four hits while striking out nine, the second-most of his career.

In two starts this season, Langley is 2-0 with 15 strikeouts over 11.0 innings pitched. The southpaw has yet to allow an earned run.

The Raiders will continue their road swing to open the season by venturing to Miami (FL) for a three-game set beginning on Friday, Feb. 27.

Horizon League top performers (Feb. 23-March 1)

• Sam Koenig, Milwaukee (Sr., OF) - Extending his hitting streak to eight games to open the season, Koenig was 6-for-14 at the plate against Grand Canyon. With two doubles and homer, Koenig posted a .786 slugging percentage.
• Nate Palace, Valparaiso (So., 1B) - Making two starts in Valpo’s series at Gardner-Webb, Palace went 5-for-9 at the plate, ripping two doubles as part of a 4-for-5 effort on Sunday.
• Connor Philbin, UIC (Jr., OF) - Philbin went 4-for-12, leading the UIC offense in its series versus Missouri.
• Ian Yetsko, Oakland (Jr., C) - Yetski led Oakland with three hits in its two-game set at Arizona, posting a 1.000 OPS.
• Ian Lewandowski, UIC (Jr., RHP) - Tossed 8.1 innings in UIC’s series-opener versus Missouri, matching his career high with six strikeouts in the walk-off loss.
• Dalton Lundeen, Valparaiso (Jr., LHP) - Taking the mound in Friday’s series opener at Gardner-Webb, Lundeenwas the hard-luck loser, striking out a career-high 10 over 6.1 innings.
• Jesse Scholtens, Wright State (Jr., RHP) - Continuing his strong start to the season, Scholtens threw 5.2 innings at No. 11 Miami, allowing one run while striking out four.

2015 Baseball Weekly Awards
Batter of the Week
Feb. 16:  Jeff Boehm, UIC (Sr., 1B)
Feb. 23:  Gabe Snyder, Wright State (Fr., OF)
March 2: Ryan Fucci, Wright State (Jr. OF)

Pitcher of the Week
Feb. 16:  Brian Keller, Milwaukee (Jr., RHP)
Feb. 23:  Jesse Scholtens, Wright State (Jr. RHP)
March 2: Justin Langley, Milwaukee (So. LHP)