By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Smack dab in the middle of one of the most impressive power surges in Tennessee Tech baseball history, senior Brandon Thomasson has been recognized for his work with the bat over the past weekend, earning Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors from Collegiate Baseball newspaper.
Thomasson, who with eight home runs in his past nine games has pulled within one long ball of the national lead held by Kentucky's A.J. Reed, was a force to be reckoned with in a three-game series against the Ohio Valley Conference regular season champion Southeast Missouri Redhawks.
He belted three bombs in the series, batting .571 thanks to eight hits in 14 at bats. The slugger scored six times over the weekend, driving in 10 runs and reaching base a total of 12 times for an on base percentage of .667. Thomasson also slugged an incredible 1.357 while recording two doubles and the three moonshots.
It hasn't taken long for the Royal Palm Beach, Fla. native to make an impact on the Tech record books, already tying for third all-time with 32 career home runs in just two seasons as a Golden Eagle. His 20 jack jobs this year ranks tied for second in Tech single-season history and his 68 RBI on the year ties him for fifth most in a single season.
The senior right-fielder is batting an impressive .344 in 51 games this season, racking up an unreal 40 extra base hits including 20 home runs, 16 doubles, and four triples. He also leads the OVC in home runs, RBI (68), and slugging (.741).
Here's a look at the other National Players of the Week:
• RHP Cas Silber, High Point: Silber set a High Point University single-game record with 13 strikeouts over six shutout innings during a 6-4 win over Longwood.
• RHP Matt Fraudin, Gardner-Webb: Fraudin fired a 1-hit complete game with 11 strikeouts during a 2-0 win over William & Mary. He retired the first 19 batters he faced, including 10 via strikeouts, before having his perfect game broken up with one away in the seventh. Fraudin allowed one more base runner the rest of the way, issuing a walk in the eighth, before retiring the Tribe in order in the ninth. William & Mary was ranked No. 1 in the nation in scoring at the time, averaging 9 runs per game.
• RHP Nick Burdi, Louisville: The closer for Louisville had three scoreless appearances last week as he posted 13 strikeouts and no walks over six innings with just one hit.
• RHP Daniel Gossett, Clemson: Gossett struck out 11 batters during an 8-0 complete game shutout over Notre Dame. He allowed four hits and one walk. No Fighting Irish base runner advanced past second base in the contest.
• OF Michael Aquino, Rice: Aquino went 8-for-17 with 7 RBI, 4 runs scored, a grand slam and 5 doubles for a .941 slugging percentage.
• SS Vince Conde, Vanderbilt: Conde was 6-for-17 with 2 homers, 4 runs scored and 8 RBI in four games last week.
• INF Greg Davis, Louisiana-Lafayette: Davis was 6-for-8 with 8 RBI and 4 runs scored, a grand slam and double against South Alabama. He posted a slugging percentage of 1.250 and had a .778 on-base percentage. In the first game he played, he recorded 5 RBI, including the game-winning hit in the ninth to give Louisiana an 8-7 win. He followed that up with 3 hits in the series finale and drove in another 3 runs.
