Hazelbaker Named MAC West Player Of The Week

MUNCIE, Ind. ? For the third time in the first six weeks of the season, junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) has been named the Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Hazelbaker is the only player in the MAC to earn multiple Player of the Week honors this season. Ball State has now received a weekly honor from the MAC all six weeks of the 2009 season, having picked up five MAC West Player of the Week honors and two Pitcher of the Week accolades.

“Jeremy had another great week sparking our offense,” head coach Greg Beals said. “His cycle on Friday was something special to watch ? that combination of speed and power is what makes him the dynamic player he is.”

Hazelbaker led the Cardinals to a series split against preseason MAC favorite Kent State has he posted a .750 batting average (six-of-eight) in the two games. He became the first Cardinal to hit for the cycle since Ben Schroeder accomplished the feat April 20, 2003 in Ball State's 10-3 victory over Illinois State. He accomplished the feat Friday afternoon in his first four at-bats of the game as he tallied a first inning double, a second inning home run, a fourth inning single and a fifth inning triple as he reached base five times against the Golden Flashes.

Hazelbaker posted a 1.625 slugging percentage in the series as he reached base eight times in the two games and hit two doubles, a triple and a home run. On the week, he posted a .538 batting average (seven-of-13) in the Cardinals' three games. He leads the team in batting this season with a .443 average and a .670 slugging percentage from his leadoff position. He leads the MAC with hits (43), runs scored (30), triples (4) and on-base percentage (.526).

Hazelbaker joins sophomore right-hander Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan), junior right-hander Brad Piatt (Galveston, Ind./Lewis Cass), junior left fielder Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) and freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) as MAC West weekly award winners this season. The Cardinals will return to action Wednesday evening as they battle the Louisville Cardinals in non-conference play. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Jim Patterson Stadium in Louisville, Ky.

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Ball State University Athletics

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Kory Benbow

Jeremy Hazelbaker

Ian Nielsen

Brad Piatt

Kolbrin Vitek

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