Mathews, Connolly Named BIG EAST Baseball Players of the Week
NEW YORK – Georgetown’s Simon Mathews earned his third Pitcher of the Week honor, second in as many weeks as he once again helped the Hoyas to a win with his fifth complete game of the year. Creighton’s Kevin Connolly was named BIG EAST Player of the Week after a seven-hit week that aided the Bluejays to a series sweep of Villanova.
Of note: Xavier once again boasts two on the honor roll, after moving to second place in the BIG EAST standings at 6-3. Xavier’s weekend sweep of Butler was the first BIG EAST sweep for the Musketeers since April 11-13, 2014 against Villanova. It was also the first time since 2014 that Villanova took back-to-back BIG EAST series. The Musketeers are on a five-game winning streak going into the weekend.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kevin Connolly, Creighton, Jr.,
Connolly hit .583 over the weekend, helping Creighton to a road sweep of Villanova with seven hits in 12 at bats. Connolly added five RBI and four runs scored as he collected two doubles, posted a .750 slugging percentage and closed the week with a .614 on-base percentage. The junior delivered at least one hit, one run scored and one RBI in each of th Bluejays’ three victories.
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Simon Mathews, Georgetown, Jr., RHP
For the second-straight week, Mathews earns Pitcher of the Week honors for another complete game performance, his third in a row, fifth of the season. The junior righty helped Georgetown earn a 1-0 victory over Seton Hall in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. He scattered eight hits and allowed just one walk, while striking out five. He stranded the tying run in scoring position in each of the last three innings, including a runner on third with less than one out in the ninth. It was the first series win for the Hoyas over Seton Hall since the 2008 season.
BIG EAST Baseball Weekly Honor Roll
Beau Hall, Georgetown, Jr., OF
Batted .286 (6-for-21) with a home run, four RBI, a double, a walk and two runs for the week. Two of his RBI came against Maryland Eastern Shore. Had two runs in the third game against Seton Hall with a solo homer and an RBI-single in the first and second innings.
Rollie Lacy, Creighton, So., RHP
Improved to 7-2 on the season after limiting the Wildcats to two runs over eight innings in a 9-3 Creighton victory. Lacy opened the game retiring 21 of the first 25 batters he faced, including a stretch of 15 of 16 from the second through the sixth frames. Lacy finished with five K’s and no walks in his 8.0 innings pitched.
Shane McCarthy, Seton Hall, So., RHP
McCarthy pitched 8.0 innings allowing just four hits, one run (unearned) with seven strikeouts and just two walks in the opening game against Georgetown on Friday. He received a no decision as the Pirates defeated the Hoyas, 2-1, in 11 innings.
Chris Givin, Xavier, Fr., 2B
GIvin led the Musketeers with a .500 batting average, going 5-for-10 with a pair of walks to help Xavier to a series sweep at Butler. In the field, made six assists with three putouts without an error. He reached base in all four plate appearances in Sunday’s game three, going 2-for-2 with two walks and an RBI single.
Matt Kent, Xavier, Fr., RHP
Picked up his second-straight win and clinched a second-straight series for Xavier with his game two performance at Butler. Kent limited BU to one run (unearned) on four hits and a walk over five innings, striking out four. He lowered his season ERA to 0.79.