April 28, 2008

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The Wright State baseball team has swept the Horizon League baseball awards for the second straight week. The league announced on Monday that Jeremy Hamilton was honored as Player of the Week and Jon Durket was named Pitcher of the Week after helping WSU remain in first place.

The Raiders have swept the awards the past two weeks, with Hamilton and Durket winning this week and Alex Kaminsky (pitcher) and John Kopilchack (player) turning the trick last week.

It is only the second time since 1996 - when the league began to award player of pitcher of the week honors - that a team has swept the honors in back-to-back weeks. The only other occurrence was during the 2003 season when Butler won the final two player and pitcher of the week honors.

Hamilton started off the week with a solid showing against Toledo, hitting for the cycle against the Rockets with a pair of RBI's. It was the first time a WSU player hit for the cycle since 2004 (Bryan Vickers, at UIC) and Hamilton accomplished the feat in reverse order (home run, triple, double then single).

The junior then drove in three RBI's, scored six runs and collected six hits against Milwaukee to keep WSU atop the Horizon League standings. Hamilton collected four hits, drove in three RBI's and scored four times in the series finale against the Panthers. He walked four times during the week and collected five extra-base hits in four contests.

Hamilton ranks among the league leaders in eleven offensive categories and holds the ninth best fielding percentage in the Horizon League. He leads the league loop in slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and walk.

Durket threw his second straight complete game on Saturday in the first game of the double-header. In nine innings of work, Durket scattered eight hits, striking out six batters, while allowing only a pair of runs. The California native didn't walk a batter and picked up his third win of the season.

The junior ranks among the league leaders in seven pitching categories, while leading the league in fewest runs allowed. He ranks third among league hurlers in ERA and is second in opponent's batting average, behind teammate Kaminsky.

2008 WSU Horizon League Player of the Week Honors
3/3 - Jeff Mercer, Jr. Designated Hitter
3/10 - Ross Vagedes, Sr. Outfielder
4/7 - Jeff Mercer, Jr. Designated Hitter
4/21 - John Kopilchack, Sr. Outfielder
4/28 - Jeremy Hamilton, Jr. First Baseman

2008 WSU Horizon League Pitcher of the Week Honors
4/14 - Rylan Ostrosky, Jr. Right-Handed Pitcher
4/21 - Alex Kaminsky, So. Right-Handed Pitcher
4/28 - Jon Durket, Jr. Left-Handed Pitcher

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