Joe Poduslenko, Seton Hall
Seton Hall’s Poduslenko, Schellenger Earn First #BIGEASTbase Weekly Honors
NEW YORK – Seton Hall’s Joe Poduslenko and Zach Schellenger were impressive in a split series against Michigan. Both their performances earned the Pirate pair the first BIG EAST baseball weekly honors of the season.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
Joe Poduslenko, Seton Hall, Sr., 3B (Glen Mills, Pa.)
In the four-game series against Michigan, the BIG Ten coaches’ pick for runner up in their league this year, senior Joe Podeslenko was on top of his game. In the season-opener on Friday, he reached base four times, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double, a stolen base and two walks in a 5-4 victory in Port St. Lucie, Fla. On Saturday, Poduslenko scored two runs in the 8-7, extra-inning loss and reached base twice in game two, a 10-7 seven-inning close loss. On Sunday, Poduslenko helped Seton Hall tie the series against the Wolverines as he went 2-for-5 with four RBIs. His three-run home run in the top of the ninth inning tuned a 6-5 deficit into an 8-6 lead for the Pirates. Poduslenko’s stat line for opening weekend was a .333 average, five hits, four runs, five RBI, four walks, a double, a home run and a .737 slugging percentage.
BIG EAST Pitcher of the Week
Zach Schellenger, Seton Hall, Jr., RHP (Relief) (Malverne, Pa.)
In two appearances in the four-game series against Michigan in Port St. Lucie, Fla., Schellenger did not allow a run with a win and two saves. The righty came into the game in the final inning as the “visiting team” and earned the save in preserving a 5-4 victory with a hitless inning with one strikeout. On Sunday, the series closer, Schellenger entered the game in the eighth inning with the Pirates trailing 6-3. He remained in the game after the Pirates took the lead in the ninth. He pitched two full innings and was perfect, striking out five of the six batters he faced to earn the W. His 3.0 inning stat line included 0 hits, 0 runs, six strikeouts, 0 walks and a 0.00 ERA.
BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll
Gehrig Parker, Butler, Jr., OF (Park Ridge, Ill.)
Posted a .417 average (5-for-12) In a 3-1 weekend for the Bulldogs with five hits, five RBI, two doubles and a walk. Two of his five hits went for extra bases. He also added two runs scored.
Zach Racusin, Georgetown, Grad., OF (Morristown, N.J.)
Racusin batted .385 (5-for-13) with two runs, an RBI and a double with multi-hit performances in his first two games in a Georgetown uniform. Singled and scored the game-winning run in the ninth inning for the first season-opening win for GU since 2012, 6-5 vs. Davidson.
Jesse Berardi, St. John’s, Jr., SS/2B (Commack, N.Y.)
Berardi hit .500 (6-for-12) with five RBI and four runs scored with a .563 OBP as St. John’s went 3-0 defeating Western Carolina 14-3, James Madison 13-1 and Richmond 7-3 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Michael LoPresti, St. John’s, So., RHP (Starter) (Wayne, N.J.)
Earned his first win of the season in St. John’s 13-1 victory over James Madison. LoPresti went 5.0 innings, allowed one run with seven strikeouts, two walks and four hits.
Connor Grammes, Xavier, Fr., DH/Pitcher/Infield (McLean, Va.)
Grammes started all four games in a 2-2 weekend at Troy. He hit .471 (8-for-17) with three runs, three doubles, a homer and five RBI in the cleanup spot. He also tossed 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out two.