SAU's Matias, IUSB's Parker Recognized With Baseball Weekly Honors

CHICAGO --- Key pieces to their respective teams' victories during the seven-day period ending March 23, St. Ambrose University's Brandon Matias (Glenview, Ill.) and Indiana University South Bend's Andrew Parker (Wheatfield, Ind.) have captured Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Week 5 baseball honors, the league office announced on Tuesday.

Matias was named the CCAC Player of the Week after leading St. Ambrose to a 5-1 week.  He slugged at a 1.208 rate after producing five home runs and three doubles among his 11 total hits over the six games.  He also batted .458 (11-for-24), with nine runs scored, 13 driven in, three walks and one stolen base.

The graduate student outfielder hit safely in all six games with his top performance coming in a 24-14 victory over Trinity Christian College on Friday.  In that game, he went 4-for-6 with two doubles and two home runs and amassed eight runs batted in.  He also homered in the first game that day, a 17-7 Fighting Bees' win.

Matias registered a pair of two-hit games, as well, one of which came in a 15-13 decision over University of St. Francis last Tuesday, where he also homered and drove in three runs.  His other two-hit game was on Saturday in a 15-8 loss, where both hits went for extra bases (double, home run).

St. Ambrose boosted its record up to 8-6 in conference play and 11-13 overall with the 5-1 week.

Parker accounted for both Indiana South Bend victories on the mound to garner CCAC Pitcher of the Week accord.  He posted a 0.84 earned run average along with a 0.84 WHIP over his two games, while striking out eight batters against only one walk in 10 2/3 innings. 

The sophomore right-hander went the first 4 2/3 innings of a 7-4 win over Calumet College of St. Joseph last Tuesday.  In that contest, he allowed only one earned run and struck out four batters against five hits.  He also struck out four on Saturday in a 3-2 decision over Saint Xavier University, where he went six innings and gave up only three hits and one walk.

Indiana South Bend went 2-2 on the week to even its conference record at 7-7.  Overall, the Titans are 11-17.

Other Player Nominees: Gavin Daniel (Viterbo), Hudson Deal (Judson), Jack Dupuis (Olivet Nazarene), Joseph Jimenez (Saint Xavier), Shane Jones (Trinity Christian), Jake Merda (St. Francis), Michael Perry (Calumet St. Joseph).

Other Pitcher Nominees: Joey Boland (Olivet Nazarene), Zac Blazekovich (St. Francis), Ian Clark (Calumet St. Joseph), Jimmy Fairley (Saint Xavier), Brad Niedzwiedz (St. Ambrose), Ryan Risch (Judson), Anthony Sanchez (Viterbo).