By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the second time in his career, Michael Wood was named adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the week, sharing the honor with Eastern Kentucky's Jack Piekos after leading Tech to a series-opening victory at Bethune-Cookman over the weekend.
The senior hurler tossed his first career complete-game shutout against the Wildcats, leading to the Olalla, Wash. native's first weekly honor of the season.
Wood struck out five without surrendering a walk, and scattered five hits (four of which were singles). The senior faced two batters above the minimum and did not allow a base runner for the first four innings.
He also appeared in one inning of relief in a mid-week staffed game, allowing a two-run single that saddled him with a tough-luck loss.
CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Jack Piekos, LHP • 6-2, 190, Jr. • Blue Point, N.Y. • Eastern Kentucky
Piekos struck out 10 batters in six innings of work as Eastern Kentucky topped Youngstown State 11-0 on Friday. The lefty gave up no runs and only three singles while allowing only one runner past second base. Piekos started the game by retiring the first six batters he faced and 17 of the first 19 batters that came to the plate. In three appearances this season he has compiled a 2-1 record and 1.50 ERA. in 18 innings of work.
Others Nominated: Zach Neff, Austin Peay; Jake Haberer, Eastern Illinois; Justin Hoyt, Jacksonville State; Aaron Leasher, Morehead State; Caleb Arbeiter, Murray State; Mason McReaken, SIUE.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dre Gleason, 1B • 6-4, 238, Sr. • O'Fallon, Mo. • Austin Peay
Gleason earned his second OVC Player of the Week honors in three weeks of the season after hitting .533 (8-for-15) with six runs scored, two doubles, two home runs, nine RBI, a 1.067 slugging percentage and .556 on-base percentage. The senior opened the week with a career-high seven RBI in a victory over Middle Tennessee. In that contest he was 4-for-5 with a double and home run. Gleason followed that with a pair of two-hit performances over the weekend against Mercer, including blasting a home run in the first game against the Bears. Gleason currently ranks first in the OVC in RBI (18) and third in batting (.447).
Others Nominated: Rafael Bournigal, Belmont; Joseph Duncan, Eastern Illinois; Daniel McFarland, Eastern Kentucky; Taylor Hawthorne, Jacksonville State; Braxton Morris, Morehead State; Adam Bauer, Murray State; Tristen Gagan, Southeast Missouri.
Photo by Tony Marable
