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Player of the Week: Sam Owens, BRY
Pitcher of the Week: Cooper Thompson, SHU
Rookie of the Week: Adam Frank, FDU
Previous Releases: Week 1 | Preseason Poll
NEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
SAM OWENS, BRYANT
So. INF/C, R/R, 5-11, 195 lbs, Scituate, RI/ Scituate
WEEK 1 STATS: .333 BA (4-for-12), HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 runs, SB
Owens produced at the plate against the nation’s top-ranked team, totaling three extra-base hits and four RBI over a three-game series. The sophomore catcher, who hit .333 and struck out only once in 12 at-bats, scored one run in each of Bryant’s three battles at No. 1 Louisiana State. He logged two-hit, two-RBI performances in both the series opener and Sunday’s finale. Owens plated the Bulldogs’ first run of the series by lacing a fourth-inning, one-out double on Friday. He touched ‘em all later in the game, leading off the eighth frame by launching a solo blast to left field. The sophomore was held hitless during Game 2, but reached base on a fourth-inning HBP and eventually came around to score. With Bryant hoping to hand LSU its first loss of the season, Owens delivered at multiple key junctures during Sunday’s one-run setback. As he did in the opener, the second-year Bulldog drove in Bryant’s first run of the finale. Cutting into a 2-0 deficit in the top of the fourth, Owens belted a two-out double that chased Jimmy Titus home. He plated a second run by connecting on a two-out single in the sixth inning. Following the RBI hit, Owens proceeded to steal second base before scoring the tying run on a Gaby Cruz single.
NEC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
COOPER THOMPSON, SACRED HEART
So., RHP, 6-3, 180 lbs, Clinton, CT/The Morgan School
WEEK 2 STATS: 1 start, 0.00 ERA, 6.0 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 BB, 3 K
Thompson spun 6.0 innings of one-hit ball to earn a victory at CAA member William & Mary. Pitching to an 0.33 WHIP, the sophomore righty allowed only one unearned run before handing a 7-1 lead over to the bullpen to start the seventh inning. Thompson held the Tribe hitless for the first 5.1 frames of his start. After an one-out double spoiled his no-hit bid, the second-year Pioneer induced back-to-back groundouts to end the sixth inning. William & Mary managed its lone run off Thompson in the second inning with the help of two SHU errors. Thompson walked one and recorded three strikeouts in the 7-3 road win.
NEC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
ADAM FRANK, FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON
R-Fr., INF, R/L, 5-10, 170 lbs, Saddle Brook, N.J. Don Bosco Prep
WEEK 2 STATS: .571 BA (4-for-7), 2B, 3B, 2 BB, 2 RBI, .700 OBP
Frank opened the 2019 campaign by recording back-to-back two-hit games. The redshirt freshman infielder reached base safely at least three times and recorded one RBI in each of his two appearances. Going up against Seton Hall and Dayton, Frank slugged 1.000 while posting a .700 on-base percentage. Both of his hits in Saturday’s season-opening win over Big East member Seton Hall went for extra bases. He helped FDU jump out to a 5-0 lead over the Pirates by belting a RBI triple in the first inning before walking and scoring a run in the second frame. Frank reached base safely four times (2H, BB, HBP) against A-10 member Dayton in a game that was called a 3-3 tie after eight innings. He forced in a run with a second-inning, bases-loaded walk.
NEC PRIME PERFORMERS (Week 2)
Sam Owens (C), BRY
Cooper Thompson (RHP), SHU
Adam Frank (INF), FDU
Miles Nicholson (OF), MSM
Elijah Brown (OF), SHU