April 15, 2008

CO-PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Josh Phegley, Indiana
So., C, Terre Haute, Ind./South
The Big Ten's leader in batting average and slugging percentage during conference play, Phegley hit .600 (9-for-15) with a 1.067 slugging percentage against Iowa over the weekend, also reaching base at a .714 clip to combine for a weekend OPS of 1.781. In the series opener, the Terre Haute, Ind., native recorded his third five-hit game of the season, matching IU's school record. In the game, he drove in three runs and scored three as the Hoosiers went on to win, 13-12. He followed the performance on Saturday with a home run in each end of a doubleheader, including the first grand slam of his career in Game 1. On the weekend, he totaled 10 RBI and seven runs scored with a stolen base. The sophomore also added 10 assists from behind the plate and caught every pitch during the Hoosiers' four-game weekend series. In Big Ten action, Phegley leads the conference with a .500 average and an .891 slugging percentage and is third with an on-base mark of .536. This is Phegley's first career award and the first for Indiana this season.

Last Indiana Player OTW: Andrew Means (3/20/07)

Zach Putnam, Michigan
Jr., DH, Ann Arbor, Mich./Pioneer
Putnam led the Wolverines to a four-game sweep over the weekend, batting .368 (7-for-19) with a double and three home runs to combine for an .895 slugging percentage. The junior also added eight RBI and six runs as Michigan maintained the top spot in the Big Ten standings with an 11-1 record. Putnam's best performance came in Game 2 of the series against Illinois when he went 3-for-5 with a double and two home runs, scoring four runs and driving in six. The Ann Arbor, Mich., native also went 3-for-5 with a homer, two runs and four RBI in a non-conference matchup against Toledo earlier in the week, driving his weekly numbers up to a .417 average, a .440 on-base percentage and a .958 slugging mark. Putnam is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak and is third in the Big Ten in slugging percentage (.725) and tied for third in RBI (14) in conference action. The utility player also picked up the win on the mound in Friday's game, driving his record to 3-0 with a 2.95 overall ERA and 47 total strikeouts. The award is Putnam's first career honor for hitting, and his second weekly accolade this season as he was named Pitcher of the Week on March 31. Putnam is the first player since Northwestern's Sloan Smith in 1993 to be named Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week in the same season.

CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Chris Cullen, Michigan State
Sr., RHP, Tecumseh, Ontario/St. Anne
Cullen takes home the first weekly award of his career after tossing a two-hit shutout in Michigan State's 1-0 win over third-place Ohio State on Sunday. The senior threw all eight innings in what was scheduled as a seven-inning game, striking out five and allowing just two walks and two hits in the effort. The outing was Cullen's first career shutout and first career complete game, also marking the first Spartan shutout since John Dwan pitched seven shutout innings against Purdue early last season. In conference games, Cullen is third in the Big Ten with a 1.45 ERA and fourth with an opponents' batting average of .203.

Last Michigan State Pitcher OTW: John Dwan (4/2/07)

Joe Muraski, Northwestern
So., LHP, Rothschild, Wis./D.C. Everest
Muraski pitched back-to-back complete-game shutouts in six days, helping the Wildcats record wins over Chicago State and Minnesota last week. In non-conference action, the sophomore tossed all five innings of a rain-shortened game, striking out four as Northwestern upended the Cougars, 13-0. Against the Golden Gophers on Sunday, the Rothschild, Wis., native struck out a career-high seven batters in seven innings as he scattered just two walks and two hits in the 10-0 win. On the weekend, Muraski posted a WHIP of 0.75 and struck out an average of 8.3 batters per nine innings of work. In conference games, the southpaw is among the Big Ten leaders in opponents' batting average (.212), innings pitched (18.2) and strikeouts (12).

Last Northwestern Pitcher OTW: Dan Schwartz (2/13/07)

Big Ten Baseball

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