March 17, 2008

Player of the Week
Nate Recknagel, Michigan
Sr., C/1B, Lake Orion, Mich./Lake Orion
Recknagel takes home his second career weekly honor after leading Michigan to a 3-1 record at the Centex Homes Invitational. The senior went 9-for-15 (.600) with three home runs and a double to register a slugging percentage of 1.267 on the weekend. Recknagel recorded multiple hits in each of Michigan's four games and recorded two or more RBI and scored one or more runs in three of those contests. The Lake Orion, Mich., native homered in the first three tournament games, which extended his home run streak to four contests. In the opener against Presbyterian on Friday, he went 2-for-2 with three RBI and a run before going 3-for-5 with four RBI and a run against Ball State on Saturday. Later on Saturday, Recknagel went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored as the Wolverines defeated No. 20 Coastal Carolina, 4-1. The senior also registered two hits as Michigan dropped a narrow 11-9 decision to Coastal on Sunday. Recknagel leads the Big Ten in home runs (6), RBI (20) and total bases (41), and is second with a .774 slugging percentage.

Last MICH Player OTW: Eric Rose (4/30/08)

Pitcher of the Week
Matt Bashore, Indiana
So., LHP, Tipp City, Ohio/Tippecanoe
Bashore collects his first career weekly honor after leading Indiana in a shutout victory over Portland on Friday at the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. The sophomore went eight innings and struck out a Big Ten season-high 12 batters as the Hoosiers went on to win, 7-0, eventually earning a third-place finish in the tournament. Bashore started strong, fanning the first four batters he faced, and maintained dominance throughout the game as he struck out Portland's top three hitters to quell a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the seventh. His 12 strikeouts are the most for a Hoosier since current Colorado Rockies hurler Zach McClellan recorded 14 against Vermont on March 18, 2000. Bashore leads the Big Ten in strikeouts (32) and is second in ERA (1.42). The Hoosiers finished 4-2 at the tournament, which tied the squad with Gonzaga for the best record at the six-team event.