KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association announced its first Baseball Athletes of the Week for the 2023 season.
Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week – Jake Angelico - Newman
Jake Angelico batted .500 over opening weekend with a .917 slugging percentage and 10 RBI in the three-game series at Southern Nazarene. Jake totaled six hits, two doubles and had a home run in three games. The senior was also a perfect 3-3 on stolen bases. In game three against SNU, Angelico was 4-for-4 with seven RBI and totaled 10 bases.
Co-MIAA Hitter of the Week – Elliott Herrmann – Fort Hays State
Elliott Herrmann led the Tigers this past weekend with eight RBI and a .545 batting average. Four of his six hits went for extra bases, including two home runs and two doubles. He also scored eight runs. He posted a .722 on-base percentage for the week, drawing four walks and was hit by three pitches.
MIAA Pitcher of the Week – Cole Woods – Missouri Southern
Cole Woods began the season off with a dominant six shutout innings while throwing nine strikeouts with four caught looking against (RV) St. Cloud State while having a .830 WHIP and opposing hitters batting .150 against him. Woods became the 14th Lion in program history with over 150 career strikeouts with his performance this weekend.
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
Hitters
Gibrian Pena – Emporia State
Gibrian Pena had three home runs and ten RBI in three games as the Hornets went 2-1 at the Edmond First Pitch Classic. The sophomore started things by going 2-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and seven RBI in the Hornets 17-9 win over Oklahoma Baptist. His grand slam in the second inning turned a two-run deficit into a two-run lead at 7-5. He hit a three-run homer in the seventh to give ESU a 15-8 lead. He hit a two-run homer to give the Hornets a 3-1 lead against Northern State in the fifth inning. He ended the weekend with an RBI ground out that put ESU ahead 4-0 in the second inning of their 7-4 win over SWOSU. He is leading the MIAA in home runs and RBI after the first weekend and tied for sixth in stolen bases.
Ryan Koski – Northwest Missouri
Ryan Koski batted .500 with seven hits (three extra-base hits) and four RBI as Northwest Missouri opened the season in Arkansas. Koski slugged .857 and had an on-base percentage of .533 in four games. He recorded a hit in all four contests and notched two hits in three of the four matchups. Defensively, Koski was credited with three outfield assists. Koski went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI against No. 2-ranked Southern Arkansas. Koski hit his first home run of the season while going 2-for-4 with two RBI in a 5-2 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State. Koski went 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in a 4-2 loss to East Central on Sunday.
Pitchers
Noah Geekie – Emporia State
Noah Geekie tossed 6.0 scoreless innings in the Hornets 7-4 win over Southwestern Oklahoma on the final day of the Edmond First Pitch Classic. He allowed just two hits while striking out six and not allowing a walk. He hit the leadoff batter in the bottom of the first and then retired the next ten Bulldogs in order before giving up his first hit with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning with ESU leading 7-0. He stranded that runner at third with a strikeout to end the inning. He also hit .286 with a .444 on base percentage while playing outfield in the first two games of the weekend.
Marcos Lopez – Central Oklahoma
Marcos Lopez started for the Bronchos against Oklahoma Baptist in the final game of the Edmond First Pitch Classic and was dominant in getting the win. The sophomore struck out seven batters in six innings and didn’t give up a run. Only twice was there a runner on second against one of the best offenses in the Central Region.
ALSO NOMINATED
Hitters: John Prudhom (Central Missouri), Seth Gray (Central Oklahoma), Matt Miller (Missouri Southern), Prescott Horn (Rogers State), Cal Watkins (Washburn), Joe Hamilton (Pittsburg State)
Pitters: Zach Wiese (Northwest Missouri), Rece Parker (Rogers State), Cole Warner (Washburn)