April 14, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB left fielder Phil Bell, along with Rice third baseman Diego Seastrunk, has been named a Conference USA Co-Hitter of the Week. Bell hit .542 (13-for-24) in five games last week with three home runs, including a grand slam, and 16 RBI to help the Blazers to a 2-3 record.

Bell legged out two doubles and two triples and boasted a slugging percentage of 1.167 for the week.

In UAB's three-game series against No. 7 Rice, Bell hit .643 (9-for-14) with two doubles, one triple and two home runs, while driving in nine runs. Bell's biggest hit of the weekend was on Sunday when he hit a two-run home run to give the Blazers an 8-7 lead in the top of the ninth at Rice.

Bell also turned heads in the outfield, saving a game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth by gunning down Aaron Luna at the plate with the game tied for an outfield assist.

Seastrunk hit safely in all four Rice wins last week to extend his current hitting streak to seven games. He batted a composite .471 (8-for-17) with a home run and two doubles for a .765 slugging percentage.

For the week, he drove in a team-leading 10 runs and he scored six times. Seastrunk drew two walks, was hit by a pitch and had a sacrifice fly for a .500 on-base percentage. He helped win Sunday's series finale against UAB with a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning.

Matt Petition from Tulane was named this week's C-USA Pitcher of the Week.