Indiana's Kemp and Illinois' Blomquist Nab Weekly Baseball Laurels




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March 1, 2005

BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Joe Kemp, Indiana
SR, OF/P, Bowie, MD/Riverdale Baptist
Kemp was named to the all-tournament team at the Service Academy Classic after blasting a pair of homers, driving in seven runs, scoring five runs and picking up a win on the mound to collect Big Ten Player of the Week honors. The senior outfielder picked up hits in each of his first four games of the season to extend his current hitting streak to 11 games dating back to last season. He opened the Service Academy Classic with a home run and two RBIs in a win over Indiana State and added another long ball, three RBIs and three runs during an extra-inning triumph over Memphis. In that game, Kemp returned to the mound for the first time since the 2002 season to get the final out in the ninth inning before driving in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning. The Maryland native batted .353 for the week (6-for-17) and boasted a slugging percentage of .706.

BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Brian Blomquist, Illinois
JR, RHP, Carol Stream, IL/Glenbard North
Blomquist tossed six shutout innings to pick up a win over Wagner in his first start of the season to earn Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolades. The junior righthander allowed just three hits and struck out six batters with only one walk. His performance earned Illinois a share of the NIA Shootout title, as the Illini opened the season with a 2-1 mark in Rock Hill, South Carolina.