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May 18, 2004 For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Montoro 601-266-5947 |
| N.C. State pitching pair completes rare feat | |
| CARAVATI, NIELSEN, ROGERS
AND STERRY ARE 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 May 16. Ohio State junior outfielder Steve Caravati and UNLV junior outfielder Eric Nielsen have been named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while North Carolina State's redshirt sophomore RHP Mike Rogers and senior RHP Vern Sterry were named National Co-Pitchers of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference each week and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season. Nielsen, from Las Vegas, Nev., helped the Rebels maintain their conference lead by taking three-of-four games from Utah last week. He belted five home runs and knocked in 15 runs, while batting .529 for the series. In game one vs. the Utes, Nielsen hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to break open a 3-1 game and help the Rebels to an 8-6 victory. In a game two win, he was 4-for-6 from the plate with a double, two home runs and five RBI. After going 2-for-4 in a game three loss, Nielsen closed out the series with a pair of home runs and six RBI, including a 2-for-4 performance from the plate, to seal the win. Steve Caravati batted .722 (13-for-18) in five games last week and batted .786 (11-for-14) in the 3-1 series win against Northwestern. The junior from Dover, Ohio had two doubles and batted in six runs during the week while scoring once himself. Against Northwestern, Caravati had a slugging percentage of .929 and an on-base percentage of .813. He was perfect in three at bats in the second game of the series and was perfect in four at bats in the finale. In game three, he drove in three runs. In all five games last week, he had at least two hits. Already a two-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Caravati is now batting .390 overall and .422 in Big Ten play. He is currently enjoying a seven-game hitting streak. Michael Rogers and Vern Sterry each pitched a three-hit shutout as North Carolina State completed a doubleheader sweep of No. 1-ranked Texas, 2-0 and 1-0, Saturday at Disch-Falk Field, marking the first time in the 108-year history of Texas baseball that the Longhorns were blanked in both ends of a doubleheader. Rogers (8-3) pitched the opener and allowed just the three hits, walked one and struck out 10. Rogers, who was more than good enough to make a 2-0 lead stand up, gave up leadoff hits in three of the first four innings, stranded all three at third base, and then retired the final 18 men he faced. He improved his record away from Doak Field to 7-0 with a 0.61 ERA (he is 1-3 and 4.78 at home). The three-hitter marked the eighth time in 14 starts this season that Rogers has had a three-hitter or better after six innings. Sterry allowed three hits, walked two and fanned 11. He was in never in serious trouble. He allowed a two-out walk in the first, a one-out double to David Maroul in the third, a one-out walk in the fourth, a leadoff single to Seth Johnson in the fifth, and a one-out single to Carson Kainer in the seventh. He stranded them all. Texas did not have a runner reach third base. Sterry retired the last eight men he faced, five of them on strikes, and 13 of the last 14. • 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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