Illinois, Nebraska and Purdue Claim Weekly Baseball Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its baseball weekly awards for games played April 9-14.

Player of the Week

Jacob Schroeder, Illinois

Sr. – C — Homewood-Flossmoor, Ill. — John A. Logan CC

Hit .533 (8-for-15) with four home runs and 11 RBI in leading Illinois to a 4-0 record
Produced three home runs and eight RBI in a 21-11 win over Northern Illinois
Scored eight runs, went 3-for-3 in stolen bases and compiled a 1.965 OPS
Honored with the Big Ten’s Player award for the second time in three weeks
Last Illinois Player of the Week: Jacob Schroeder (April 1, 2024)

Pitcher of the Week

Mason McConnaughey, Nebraska

So. – S-RHP — Topeka, Kan. — Cloud County CC

Threw seven shutout innings and held the Big Ten’s top offense to six hits in a 16-1 win at Rutgers on Saturday
Struck out a career-high nine batters to earn his fourth win of the season
Issued zero walks and no extra-base hits as just one RU runner touched third
Garners his first Big Ten weekly award
Last Nebraska Pitcher of the Week: Brett Sears (April 8, 2024)

Freshman of the Week

Luke Gaffney, Purdue

Fr. – 1B — Danville, Ky. — Boyle County

Recorded three hits in a game three times, including against 18th-ranked Indiana State
Hit .625 and went 6-for-7 with runners in scoring position, generating eight RBI
Compiled 31 putouts and two assists at first, turning a 3-6-3 twin kill for the Boilermakers who lead the nation in double plays (42)
Captures the Big Ten Freshman award for the fourth time this season
Last Purdue Freshman of the Week: Luke Gaffney (March 11, 2024)

2024 Big Ten Baseball Weekly Awards

Feb. 19

PL: Matt Maloney, Jr., C, PSU

P: Connor Foley, So., S-RHP, IND

F: Luke Gaffney, Fr., 1B, PUR

Feb. 26

PL: Devin Taylor, So., OF, IND

P: Christian Coppola, So., S-RHP, RU

F: Luke Gaffney, Fr., 1B, PUR

March 4

PL: Drake Westcott, Jr., 1B, ILL

PL: Nick Williams, Jr., OF, MSU

P: Mitch Voit, So., S-RHP/INF, MICH

F: Ryan McKay, Fr., 2B, MSU

March 11

PL: Rhett Stokes, Jr., IF, NEB

P: Cade Obermueller, So., S-LHP, IOWA

F: Kyle Remington, Fr., R-RHP, MINN

F: Luke Gaffney, Fr., 1B, PUR

March 18

PL: Josh Kuroda-Grauer, Jr., SS, RU

P: Kurt Barr, So., R-RHP, MICH

F: Ty Doucette, Fr., 1B, RU

March 25

PL: Drake Westcott, Jr., 1B, ILL

P: Justin Sinibaldi, Sr., S-LHP, RU

F: Brayden Martin, Fr., UTL, MD

April 1

PL: Jacob Schroeder, Sr., C, ILL

P: Jacob Denner, 5th, S-LHP, MICH

F: Jasen Oliver, Fr., 2B, IND

April 8

PL: Tyler Cerny, So., SS, IND

P: Brett Sears, Sr., S-RHP, NEB

F: Joey Brenczewski, Fr., 1B, IND

April 15

PL: Jacob Schroeder, Sr., C, ILL

P: Mason McConnaughey, So., S-RHP, NEB

F: Luke Gaffney, Fr., 1B, PUR