(Rochester, Minn.) – The future Honkers battled this week. Echavia, Michalak, and Hart all went deep. Eddie Mathis picked up his eighth victory in a shutout win. An impressive streak by Yovan came to an end. Here’s the recap of this week’s action.

Kenyon Yovan (RHP/INF) – Oregon (23-13)

The freshman standout closer held an impressive streak. Though the first 13 games of his college career, Yovan had yet to surrender an earned run. Unfortunately, that streak was broken in a 4-10 loss to #20 Stanford on Sunday. He gave up two runs on three hits in his one inning of work. His streak ended at an even 20 innings pitched without surrendering an earned run. Kenyon is 1-0 for the season, now with a 0.89 ERA. He has collected 25 strikeouts with only two walks. He has not surrendered a walk in his last five games. Oregon travels to rival #1 Oregon State before a home series against Arizona State.

Ryan Thompson (RHP) – Illinois (15-22)

Thompson pitched a scoreless eighth inning 13-3 win against Western Michigan. He gave up a run on three hits with two strikeouts. The Illini went on the road to take on Purdue last weekend. Ryan came into Sunday’s game trailing 0-1 in the fifth. He held the Boilermakers scoreless for three and a third innings in relief. After Illinois tied up the game in the eighth inning, Thompson started the ninth to try to finish the game. Following a two out walk, Ryan was taken out of the game. One batter later, a fielding error led the winning run to cross, unearned, giving Purdue a 2-1 win. Thompson is 2-2 with a 5.40 ERA. Illinois travels to Bradley and Minnesota this week.

Michael Michalak     OF                   DMACC (22-21)

Michalak played a big role for Des Moines Area in Saturday’s 13-12 game two win over Iowa Central. Michael hit a three-run home run, his eighth of the season, along with scoring three times in the game. He is batting .401 for the season with 50 runs and 38 RBIs. DMACC hosts Dakota County Tech and then travels to #13 Southeastern.

Drew Slade (LHP) – Ripon (8-21)

Slade got the start against Illinois College on Friday. He started the game throwing six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. He ran into trouble when a hit batter, walk, and a single led to his removal from the game; all three runners scored on his line. Ripon got the 6-4 victory, but Slade ended with a no-decision. Drew is 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA.

Jordan Hart (OF) – #19 Minnesota State (Div. 2) (34-7)

The Mavericks’ right fielder collected three consecutive multi-hit games against Bemidji State. In Saturday’s game one win, Hart doubled and homered for the seventh time this season in a 7-6 victory. Jordan is batting .347 with 34 RBIs and 37 runs. Minnesota State hosts Upper Iowa this weekend.

Manny Armendariz (LHP) – Doane (18-27)

The Tigers’ closer took on Dordt College (Iowa) this weekend. He appeared in two games, pitching a total of four innings. In Saturday’s game two victory, Manny protected a 8-5 lead in the eighth. He surrendered two runs on two hits, but secured a 8-7 win for his third save of the season. He has a 7.44 ERA in 32.2 innings. Doane travels to Kansas Wesleyan later tonight before a season finale series at Midland University.

Eddie Mathis             RHP                Bellarmine (27-15)

The Bellarmine Knights hosts #12 Indianapolis (Div. 2) this weekend. The Knight’s hottest pitcher, Mathis, started game one. He shutout the nationally-ranked Indianapolis throwing seven innings on only five hits. He walked three batters with four strikeouts. The 13-0 win gave him a team-best eighth win. He is 8-2 with a 3.15 ERA. Mathis has 49 strikeouts to only 10 walks. Bellarmine hosts their final regular season home series against Lewis University this weekend.

Johnathan Fleek        INF                 Western Illinois (14-23)

Johnathan earned a hit in each of the Leathernecks’ four games this week. He went 2-for-3 with a run and 2 RBIs in Sunday’s 15-5 win at Fort Wayne. Fleek is batting .330 with 20 RBIs and nine runs. Western Illinois travel to Illinois State tonight before a home series against Nebraska-Omaha.

Blake Workman (RHP) – #16 Cal State Fullerton (24-14)

Workman appeared in three games this week. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning against San Diego. In a 5-4 Friday win over Cal Poly, Blake pitched a perfect scoreless eighth inning. He appeared again two days later, Thompson was sent in the game in the fourth trailing in the 2-6. Blake pitched 3.2 innings, giving up one run on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Cal State Fullerton dropped the game 4-8. Workman is 4-1 with a 2.72 ERA. The Titans host UC Irvine this weekend.

Griffin Neuer (OF) – Bellarmine (27-15)

Neuer went 5-for-15 (.333) in the four-game series against #12 Indianapolis. He collected two hits, including a double, with two runs scored in a 13-0 game one win. He finished the weekend with two doubles, three runs score, two RBIs, two walks, and a stolen base. Griffin is batting .315 in 42 games. He has nine doubles and four home runs.

 

Highlight Player of the Week

Mike Echavia  (OF) – Nevada (13-27)

The Wolfpack’s right fielder had a big series against Fresno State this weekend. In Friday’s 5-4 win, Mike went 2-for-2 with a double, two walks, and two RBIs. He returned on Sunday with a double and a solo home run for a total of three RBIs, but Nevada was ousted 5-27. Echavia is batting .281 with five home runs this season. Nevada travels east to take on Air Force this weekend.

 

 

 

Division 1 Rankings by D1baseball.com

Division 2 Rankings by NCBWA

Division 3 Rankings by NCBWA/D3baseball.com

CCCAA (California Community College) Rankings by CCCSIA State Poll

NJCAA (Junior College) Division 2 Rankings by NJCAA DII Baseball Poll Committee