Youngstown State's Banks, UIC's Evak Named Baseball Players of the Week

INDIANAPOLIS – Youngstown State senior Jeremy Banks and UIC freshman Brian Evak have been named Horizon League Baseball Players of the Week for the period of March 5-11.

Banks picked up Batter of the Week accolades for the second consecutive week after batting .545 at the plate and helping Youngstown State to its first victory of the season in last weekend’s three-game series at VMI. Banks reached base in 10-of-15 at-bats against VMI for an on-base percentage of .667. He homered three times in the series, doubled twice and drove in eight runs in the series. In YSU’s 10-2 win on Sunday, Banks hit a solo home run in the first inning and then hit a go-ahead three-run homer in the eighth.

Banks ranks as the top-hitter in the league through the first month of the season, leading the conference in batting average (.481), on-base percentage (.578), slugging percentage (.923), RBIs (23), home runs (5) and doubles (8).

Evak notched Pitcher of the Week honor after pitching five strong innings in UIC’s 14-6 win over Northwestern on Friday. Evak came into the game in the top of the fourth inning with the Flames clinging to a 7-6 lead. He shut down the Wildcats for the next five innings, striking out six and allowing only four hits as he was credited with the win in UIC’s series-clinching victory over Northwestern.

Other Horizon League top performers (March 5-11)
Radley Haddad, Butler, Jr., C – Haddad hit .500 last week, scoring five runs and driving in four, while hitting two doubles and one triple. He slugged .833 in Butler’s five games last week. In Butler’s win over IPFW on Friday, he went 3-4 and was a home run shy of the cycle.

Jake Hibberd, Wright State, Sr., 1B – Hibberd hit .400 in WSU’s four games last week, notching a hit in every game as the Raiders went 3-1.

Joe Betcher, UIC, Jr., 3B –Betcher hit .545 in UIC’s series against Northwestern, hit two doubles and one triple and driving in one run.

Andrew Bain, Valparaiso, Jr., IF– Bain hit .348 in Valparaiso’s six games last week. He had a hit in five of the six games.

Will Fadness, Milwaukee, Jr., C – Fadness hit .455 in Milwaukee’s three-game series at Arkansas-Little Rock. He hit two doubles, scored two runs and drove in two more in the series. He opened Milwaukee’s scoring in its win on Sunday with an RBI single.

Dom Silvestri, Butler, Sr., RHP –Silvestri made his first two appearances of the season last week after missing the 2011 season because of injury.  He pitched one inning in relief against Dayton and then started and threw five innings against IPFW to pick up the win. For the week, he pitched six innings and allowed one earned run on three hits, striking out four and allowing opposing batter to only hit .143.

Pat Shedlock, Youngstown State, Jr., RHP –Shedlock struck out four and allowed two runs in six innings pitched while receiving a no-decision against VMI.

Michael Schum, Wright State, Sr., RHP – Schum struck out eight in five innings pitched last week. He allowed no runs or hits and struck out six in three innings pitched Saturday in earning the save against Southeast Missouri. He picked up another save on Sunday, allowing zero runs in two innings pitched.

Kevin Wild, Valparaiso, Sr., RHP - Wildallowed two runs, scattering five hits through seven innings pitched at Campbell on Friday night. He struck out four and received a no-decision as he left with the game tied at two.