KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The MIAA announced its first Baseball Athletes of the Week presented by
Mammoth Turf for the 2021 season. Garrett McGowan from Pittsburg State was the Hitter of the Week and Missouri Southern's Will Bausinger is the MIAA Pitcher of the Week.
Bausinger got the start in the finale against Missouri S&T this week as he helped the Lions to a 14-1 win. He threw five of the seven innings, striking out nine and allowing just two hits. Bausinger allowed just one batter past second base in the game.
McGowan made a raucous debut at the plate in his first game in a Pitt State uniform, belting two home runs and driving in six runs in the Gorillas 17-12 season opening non-conference victory over Missouri Western Monday (Feb. 22). The Blue Springs, Mo., native hit a two-run HR in his first Pitt State at bat in the 1st inning and added a three-run shot in the 2nd inning. McGowan also hit a sacrifice fly, walked and scored three times in the contest. He transferred to Pitt State from the University of Illinois.
Notable Performances
Brett Ingram - Washburn
Ingram went 5-8 at the plate, hit .625, had a 1.000 slugging percentage and launched a grand slam against Regis last weekend. Ingram came off the bench in game one and went 2-2 and sent a ball over the right field fence with the bases loaded for his second career homer.
Henry Kusiak - Missouri Southern
Kusiak helped the Lions to a perfect 3-0 record this week with wins over Missouri S&T (2) and Missouri Western. For the week, Kusiak hit .500 with six hits, five runs, four doubles and three RBI.
Jake Campbell - Fort Hays State
Campbell tossed five solid innings in his first start of the year, allowing one run on two hits while striking out five Roadrunners. Both hits came in the first inning before the redshirt freshman tossed four consecutive hitless, scoreless frames. Three of his strikeout victims were caught looking.
Max Spitzmiller - Northwest Missouri
Spitzmiller struck out 11 in his first start of the year. He pitched six innings allowing six hits and three earned runs.
Also Nominated
Jacob Bouzide, Fort Hays State - Sean McElwee, Washburn - Brandon Bradshaw, Rogers State - Brett Karalius, Rogers State