By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – It hasn't taken Collin Harris very long to make his impact felt in the Tennessee Tech baseball lineup this season, as the junior left fielder took home adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Week honors after leading a brutish offensive attack for a 2-1 series victory over Bradley this past weekend.
A transfer from Dyersburg State Community College, Harris kicked off the weekend with a literal bang, tying the Golden Eagle single-game record by smashing three home runs in Friday's 13-7 victory. He finished the day 3-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored.
In Saturday's two-run loss to the Braves, Harris ripped a double as part of a 2-for-5 showing, which also included another run scored. He wrapped up the weekend by hammering another home run, driving in two runs and scoring two more times.
For the three-game weekend series the junior hit .462 (6-for-13) with six runs scored, a double, four home runs, six RBI, a stolen base, 1.462 slugging percentage and .462 on-base percentage. On the young season Harris leads the OVC in home runs (5) and is fifth in batting (.462).
Others Nominated: Alex Robles, Austin Peay; Matt Cogen, Belmont; Joseph Duncan, Eastern Illinois; Ryland Kerr, Eastern Kentucky; Josh Bobo, Jacksonville State; Chase Teter, Morehead State; Ryan Perkins, Murray State; Dan Holst, Southeast Missouri; Tanner Wessling, UT Martin.
PITCHER
Dalton Westfall, RHP • 6-6, 225, R-Jr. • Buckhannon, W.Va. • UT Martin
Westfall struck out 12 batters in 8.1 innings of work as he improved to 2-0 on the season in a 7-1 victory over Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday. The junior allowed just two hits (one in the fourth inning and one in the ninth) and walked just two as he allowed only an unearned run in the fifth inning. From the end of the fifth inning through the eighth he retired 12 batters in a row. On the season Westfall has not allowed an earned run in 15.1 innings of work and has struck out 27 while walking only four.
Others Nominated: Dylan King, Belmont; Alex Stevenson, Eastern Illinois; Jack Piekos, Eastern Kentucky; Derrick Adams, Jacksonville State; Aaron Leasher, Morehead State; Jack Hranec, Murray State; Justin Murphy, Southeast Missouri; Mason McReaken, SIUE.
