By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – For the third time in his career, Michael Wood was named adidas® Ohio Valley Conference Pitcher of the week, sharing the honor with Jacksonville State's Joe McGuire after leading Tech to a series-opening victory against Belmont Saturday evening.

After receiving his diploma earlier in the day, Wood took to the mound and struck out seven batters without walking anybody in a 3-2 victory over Belmont. The senior pitched 7.1 innings and scattered five hits over his first four innings, before retiring the final 12 batters he faced.

Wood allowed two unearned runs in picking up his OVC-leading eighth victory of this season (a mark that is 11th nationally). Wood currently ranks seventh in the OVC in innings pitched (70.1) and strikeouts (70).

In addition Wood, a Washington native, was pitching in front of his parents for the first time in his TTU career. This marks his second OVC Pitcher of the Week award of the season.

CO-PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Joe McGuire, RHP • 5-11, 200, Sr. • Oxford, Ala. • Jacksonville State
McGuire earned his second OVC Pitcher of the Week honors of the year after striking out six in seven innings in a victory over Morehead State on Sunday. The senior scattered four hits (three singles), allowed only one walk and gave up a lone run in the fourth inning of his outing. After that frame he only allowed one additional runner to reach second base. It marked his fourth victory in OVC play this season, which is tied for third in the League. In all games this season his 3.69 E.R.A. ranks first in the OVC.

Others Nominated: Devin Rose, Eastern Illinois; Casey Collins, Eastern Kentucky; Brock Fulkerson, SIUE.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Dan Kerwin, C/DH • 5-10, 180, Sr. • Bradenton, Fla. • UT Martin
In four games last week Kerwin hit .500 (10-for-20) with eight runs scored, three doubles, three home runs, nine RBI, a 1.100 slugging percentage and .545 on-base percentage. He opened the week by score three runs in a victory over Union. In a weekend series at Eastern Illinois, Kerwin helped the Skyhawks to a pair of victories to push the team into a tie for eighth place in the OVC standings. He opened the EIU series with three hits, including a home run, and a pair of runs scored. On Saturday he hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs in a 15-3 UTM victory. He capped the week by going 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBI. Overall for the week he was responsible for 17 total runs for the Skyhawks who are now just two overall wins away from tying the program's Division I season record.

Others Nominated: Andrew Curran, Eastern Illinois; Daniel McFarland, Eastern Kentucky; Clayton Daniel, Jacksonville State; Kipp Moore, Murray State; Chris Osborne, Southeast Missouri; Dustin Woodcock, SIUE; Ryan Flick Tennessee Tech.

Photo by Tony Marable