Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State Earn Weekly Awards

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference has announced its baseball weekly awards for games played Feb. 27-March 3.

Co-Player of the Week

Drake Westcott, Illinois

Jr. – 1B — Edwardsville, Ill. — Louisville

Batted .462 (6-for-13) while compiling seven RBI and a .667 on-base percentage
Power numbers included three home runs, a 1.231 slugging percentage and 1.908 OPS
Made 38 putouts with two assists in helping Illinois to a 3-1 record, including wins over Western Michigan and Michigan State at the First Pitch Invitational in Greenville, S.C.
Earns his second career Big Ten Player of the Week award
Last Illinois Player of the Week: Drake Westcott (May 8, 2023)

Co-Player of the Week

Nick Williams, Michigan State

Jr. – OF — Racine, Wis. — Wabash Valley CC

Hit .556 (10-for-18) with a home run and eight RBI; slugged .833 for the week
Produced three multiple-hit games, including a two-hit effort in Michigan State’s 19-6 win over Georgia in the first meeting between the schools in 66 years
Sent a ball with 100 mph exit velocity over the Green Monster wall at Fluor Field to close out the First Pitch Invitational
Collects his first Big Ten Player of the Week honor
Last Michigan State Player of the Week: Jack Frank (April 17, 2023)

Pitcher of the Week

Mitch Voit, Michigan

So. – S-RHP/INF — Whitefish Bay, Wis. — Whitefish Bay

Tossed a complete-game, four-hitter in Michigan’s 4-3 win over 25th-ranked UCLA at the Dodger Stadium College Baseball Classic
Held the Bruins to a .133 batting average over a career-high nine innings of work
Contributed two hits offensively against UCLA and finished the week with a .381 batting average and eight RBI
The Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection earns his first Pitcher of the Week Award
Last Michigan Pitcher of the Week: Jacob Denner (May 8, 2023)

Freshman of the Week

Ryan McKay, Michigan State

Fr. – 2B — Clarkston, Mich. — Orchard Lake St. Mary’s

Went .533 (8-for-15) at the plate, hitting safely in four games and amassing a .588 on-base percentage
Connected for three hits and scored three runs in a 19-6 victory over Georgia, the Spartans’ first win against an SEC opponent since 2016.
Has struck out only once in 23 at-bats to start his collegiate career
Takes home his first Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolade
Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Joseph Dzierwa (April 10, 2023)

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., INF, ILL

PL: Nick Williams, Jr., OF, MSU

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

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