Demeter starts a four-game hitting streak and Echavia collects four hits against Virginia Tech.
(Rochester, Minn.) – More future Honkers’ played college baseball this week. It featured some clutch relief pitching performances, a new four game hitting, and a few multi-hit games. Here is a recap of the action.
Dustin Demeter (INF) – Hawaii (3-4)
Demeter started at shortstop in all four games at home versus San Francisco. With a hit in each game, he is riding a four-game hitting streak, going 4-13 (.307) in the series. After the Rainbow Warriors lost the first two matchups in extra innings, Demeter led the charge in game three. In the third inning of a scoreless game, Dustin singled to right field scoring a run from second base. Hawaii would win the game 3-2. He would help Hawaii win on Sunday going 1-for-2 with a run and a RBI on a sacrifice fly. Demeter is batting .235 for the season with 3 RBI, a run, and a walk. The Rainbow Warriors are now 3-4 on the season. They will travel to play Minnesota on Thursday before participating in the Dairy Queen Classic in Minneapolis, Minn., featuring games against Iowa, Minnesota, and Oral Roberts.
Zach Stone (RHP) – UC-Davis (3-2)
Stone’s only appearance of the week was a big one, coming late in Saturday’s 9-4 win over Utah Valley. Down 9-0 The Wolverines sparked a comeback in the eighth inning. The first six batters reached base, scoring four runs. Stone was brought in with no outs and two runners on base. He struck out a batter and got a pair of groundouts to get out of the threat. He struck out another batter in the ninth while keeping Utah Valley off the scoreboard. Stone is 1-0 with a perfect 0.00 ERA in 5.0 IP. He has surrendered four hits with three strikeouts and three walks. UC-Davis is now 3-2 on the season after taking two out of three from Utah Valley. The Aggies head on the road for games at Stanford, Oregon State (3), and Oregon.
Morgan McCullough (INF) – Oregon (4-3)
The Oregon Ducks took part in the Tony Gwynn Classic in San Diego, Calf. last weekend. McCullough had a big day in Friday’s 11-5 win over UC Irvine. He went 3-for-5 from the plate with a strikeout. He also singled, was hit by a pitch, and scored a run against San Diego on Saturday, but the Ducks fell 2-7. The Ducks’ Monday game against San Diego was cancelled. McCullough is batting .174, starting all seven games this season. He has walked five times, scored three runs and drove another run. Oregon will return home next weekend to face Mississippi State over three games and a single-game matchup versus UC Davis on Monday.
Ryan Thompson (RHP) – Illinois (2-5)
The Illini played last weekend in the Kleberg Bank College Classic in Corpus Christi, Tex. this weekend. After a 15-14 victory against the host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Thompson made his second appearance of the season down 5-7 to #25 Houston. The Cougars had just overcome a 5-0 deficit with seven runs in the fourth inning. Thompson inherited two runners in scoring position and only one out. After he walked his first batter, the second lined into a double play, ending the inning. Thompson finished the outing, going 2.2 scoreless innings on only four hits. He struck out two batters with two walks. Illinois lost to Missouri Sunday 6-7. In two games this season, Ryan has pitched 4.1 innings with an 8.31 ERA. He has two strikeouts with seven walks. Illinois travels to Boca Raton, Flor. next for a three-game series at Florida Atlantic.
Highlight Player of the Week
Mike Echavia (OF) – Nevada (2-6)
The Wolfpack played a four-game set against Virginia Tech over the weekend. Echavia started three games in right field and one as the designated hitter. He came up big during game two of Friday’s doubleheader, collecting four hits in five at-bats. In a scoreless second inning, Echavia tripled to left center, bring home a runner from second. He later scored on a sacrifice fly. Two runners were on base when he came to the plate again in the third. He collected another RBI on a single to left field, but was stranded on base in the next at-bat. Nevada ended up winning 7-4. Echavia stepped up again on Sunday, hitting two doubles that brought in three runs. He also scored twice, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Wolfpack was blown out 10-24. Echavia leads the Nevada starters with a .400 batting average and the team with four doubles. He has scored four times while bringing in five runs. Nevada goes on the road to play a three-game series at Fresno State starting next week.