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April 6, 2004 For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Montoro 601-266-5947 |
| Wazzu OF puts on power display; ORU hurler fires no-no | |
| NCBWA NAMES RICHARDSON, BIGLEY PLAYERS OF THE WEEK |
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CHICAGO (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its National Hitter and Pitcher of the Week awards for the period ending April 4. Washington State's junior outfielder Grant Richardson (Richland, Wash.) has been named National Hitter of the Week, while Oral Roberts junior righthander Dennis Bigley (Lancaster, Texas) was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season. Last week's four games, including a game against Gonzaga and the three-game series against Birmingham-Southern, Richardson hit .583, going 7-for-12, scoring six runs and driving in 12. Richardson went "yard" five times in the four games, including two games with two home runs. His first multiple home run game of the week, Tuesday, was the first in his WSU career; his second multiple home run game came on Sunday in a 16-4 victory of BSC to complete the three-game sweep at Bailey-Brayton Field. Of the 12 runs batted in for the week, seven of the runs came on home runs. His three-run home run in the ninth inning against Gonzaga, started a seven run inning to capture the 13-11 victory. Overall, Richardson hit two solo shots, a pair of two-run home runs and a three-run home run. Overall for the week, Richardson recorded a slugging percentage of 1.833. He was walked three times and plunked four times, helping to provide him with an on-base percentage of .700 for the week. Bigley fired the first no-hitter at Oral Roberts since 1986 in an 8-0 seven-inning win over Chicago State. He faced the minimum 21 batters in the game, retiring the first 16, before hitting a batter with one out in the sixth inning (he was retired on a double play). Bigley struck out 12 batters in his second shutout of the season and allowed only four balls out of the infield (all fly outs to the center fielder). His performance improved his record to 5-1 on the season, gave him his fifth Mid-Con Pitcher of the Week honor of the season, and lowered his ERA to 1.96. • Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Howser Award Player of the Year, Regional Player of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors preseason All-American awards, publication and writing contests. 2004 NCBWA Division I Players of the Week: |
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