Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

April 25, 2005

BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Mike Rohde, Illinois
SO, DH, Brookfield, Wis./Central
Rohde batted .471 (8-of-17), drove in seven runs and scored three times to lead Illinois to a 3-1 series win on the road at Indiana to become the third Illini to pick up Big Ten Player of the Week laurels this season. The sophomore designated hitter produced an on-base percentage of .500 and a slugging percentage of .647 in Bloomington as Illinois remained in a tie for first place in the Big Ten race and jumped out to its best start since 2000. After posting a run and an RBI in the series opening win, Rohde went three-for-four in the second game of the series and connected on a grand slam with two outs in the top of the final inning to give the Illini a 4-3 victory. He duplicated his three-for-four performance in the nightcap and added two more RBI. The Wisconsin native currently ranks second in Big Ten games only with a .442 batting average and third with 17 RBI. He joins teammates Drew Davidson (April 4) and Dusty Bensko (April 11) as Player of the Week honorees this year

BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK

John Gaub, Minnesota
SO, LHP, South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul
Gaub recorded two saves and struck out 11 of the 15 batters he faced in a 3-1 series win over Northwestern to earn Big Ten Pitcher of the Week accolades. The sophomore lefthander made three appearances on the weekend, allowing only two hits and recording no walks in four and two-thirds innings of work. Gaub opened the series by striking out all five batters he faced to wrap up a one-run victory. He entered the third game of the series with one out in the sixth inning and pitched a perfect one and two-thirds innings for his second save, striking out four of the five hitters he faced for another one-run triumph. In the final game, Gaub was called upon with the bases loaded and one out in the eighth inning and promptly induced an inning-ending double play. The Minnesota native, who is tied for second among all League players with five saves, is the second Gopher to collect weekly pitching honors along with Matt Loberg (March 28, April 4).