Ball State University Athletics
Matt Stoeklen Named MAC West Player Of The Week
May 12, 2008 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State senior third baseman Matt Stoeklen has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, as announced Monday by the league office.
Stoeklen hit .583 (7-for-12) over three games last week to lead Ball State offensively. Of his seven hits, six went for extra bases (three home runs and three doubles) as he logged a 1.583 slugging percentage for the week. Stoeklen tallied 19 total bases in the three games and posted a team-high .615 on-base percentage.
The senior started his week with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate Tuesday against 19th-ranked Michigan. He belted a home run and a pair of doubles to go along with three RBI against the Big Ten-leading Wolverines.
Stoeklen then continued his hot hitting over the weekend in a rain-shortened two-game MAC series against Northern Illinois. He homered in both games of a Saturday doubleheader to extend his home run streak to three games. In game two Saturday, he added a single and a double to go along with two more RBI.
Over the past 11 games, Stoeklen has been Ball State's hottest hitter. He has logged a .413 batting average during that stretch to go along with five home runs, eight doubles and 14 RBI. For the season, Stoeklen is hitting .285 with seven home runs and 35 RBI. He is tied for the team lead with 15 doubles.
Stoeklen is the sixth Ball State player to receive a weekly MAC honor this season. Outfielder Kory Benbow (April 14), catcher Zach Dygert (March 19), outfielder Ryan Chenoweth (March 31) and shortstop Dean Anna (April 7) have all earned the Player of the Week award once, while right-hander Kolbrin Vitek was named Pitcher of the Week on March 19.
Ball State (26-20, 11-9 MAC) closes the regular season this week with four games on the road. The Cardinals play Tuesday at Louisville before heading to Toledo for a three-game conference series starting Thursday.
