By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Following a brilliant week with the bat, Tennessee Tech freshman outfielder Kevin Strohschein captured his first career adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week nod Monday afternoon after leading his squad to a perfect 4-0 record over the past seven days.
The McDonough, Ga. native who torched opponent pitching in nearly every opportunity he was presented batted a blazing .737 (14-for-19) with nine runs scored and 11 RBI off the power of a double, two triples and a grand slam. He slugged a ridiculous 1.158 while reaching base at a .773 clip.
Strohschein used the Golden Eagles' blowout victory at Alabama A&M, a record-setting 34-6 final, to produce the majority of his damage on the week.
Already comfortable with his name among the record books at Tech, the youngster kept his piping-hot rookie campaign rolling by adding his moniker to four more individual marks. The right fielder took care of over one third of the team's scoring on the day, driving in a program-record nine runs while tying the school standard with six runs scored.
Strohschein, along with sophomore David Garza, set a new program best by posting six hits apiece in the contest, with the right fielder recording a perfect 6-for-6 performance at the dish with two walks. As if the day wasn't complete enough, Strohschein also became just the second Golden Eagle ever to post three grand slams in a single season, blasting a four-run circus clout in the top of the ninth to join current student assistant coach A.J. Kirby-Jones in Tech lore. Only Matt Ballard, who donned the purple and gold from 1989-1992, cleared a jacked set of bases more in his career, totaling five grand slams in four seasons.
The rookie is batting .363 with five home runs, 29 runs scored and 35 RBI in 30 games this season. He leads the Golden Eagles and ranks sixth in the OVC in RBI.
CO-PLAYER
Josh Bobo, 3B • Jr., 5-11, 200 • Attalla, Ala. • Jacksonville State
In two games last week Bobo hit .600 (6-for-10) with five runs scored, a double, three home runs, a 1.600 slugging percentage and .600 on-base percentage as Jacksonville State took over first place in the OVC standings. In Saturday's 22-7 victory over Murray State, the junior tied the Gamecocks records for home runs in a game (3) and the program's Division I record for RBI in a game (8); he finished the game 5-for-6 with five runs scored, a double, three home runs and eight RBI. Bobo added two more RBI on Sunday.
Others Nominated: Dre Gleason, Austin Peay; Rafael Bournigal, Belmont; Joseph Duncan, Eastern Illinois; Kyle Nowlin, Eastern Kentucky; Tyler Lawrence, Murray State; Chris Osborne, Southeast Missouri; Keaton Wright, SIUE; Nick Gavello, UT Martin.
PITCHER
Tyler Vaughn, RHP • So., 6-2, 195 • Jonesboro, Ill. • Belmont
In a return to his home state, Vaughn tossed a complete game shutout in Belmont's 12-0 victory at SIUE on Saturday. The sophomore struck out eight batters while walking only in improving to 4-1 on the season. Vaughn scattered six hits and allowed only two batters to reach second base. It marked the first nine inning performance of this career.
Others Nominated: Alex Robles, Austin Peay; Matt Wivinis, Eastern Illinois; Garrett Farmer, Jacksonville State; Aaron Leasher, Morehead State; Brandon Hicks, Murray State; Jake Usher, Tennessee Tech.
Photo by Jim Dillon
