Conference

Hunter Phillips, Sacred Heart

The small second basemen swung a big bat during Sacred Heart’s four-game NEC series sweep of Wagner. Phillips smacked at least two hits in each of the Pioneers’ four NEC victories. The 5-foot-6 middle infielder batted .600 during Sacred Heart’s final regular season series, logging three extra-base hits and seven RBI. Phillips struck out only once over 21 plate appearances last week, which also included a non-conference contest against MAAC regular season champion Manhattan. He opened the Sacred Heart series by going 3-for-5 with three RBI in a 12-7 victory. Phillips connected on a first-inning RBI ground-rule double that staked the Pioneers out to a 2-0 lead in a game they led the rest of the way. After Wagner took an early 1-0 lead in Game 2, Phillips produced an RBI single to erase the second-inning deficit and came around to score the go-ahead run in an eventual 8-2 triumph. Although he did not drive in a run during the series’ third game, he had two hits, one walk, and scored twice in the 4-3 extra-inning win. With the game tied at 3-3, Phillips reached safely on a bunt base hit in the eighth inning and came around with the winning run on a double by the ensuing batter. He went 2-for-3 with a two-run triple and RBI single in the series finale, a 5-4 SHU victory. Although he went hitless in a mid-week setback to Manhattan, he logged a walk, sacrifice fly, and a run scored against the MAAC champion Jaspers.