BASEBALL
media source avatar
Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 3/4/2024, Last updated: 3/4/2024
link picture
Copied!

Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State Earn Weekly Awards

page picture

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