Braun Named NCBWA National Hitter of the Week

April 1, 2003

CHICAGO – Miami Freshman Ryan Braun was named the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) National Hitter of the Week for the period ending March 30th, today. The National Pitcher of the Week went to UNLV freshman right-hander Matt Luca.

Braun, who has split time between designated hitter a third base, went 9-for-19 (.474) during the week of March 24-30 with two home runs and 12 RBIs, powering the Hurricanes’ lineup that went 4-0 last week, including a three-game sweep of No. 2 Georgia Tech. Braun went 7-for-13 (.538) against Georgia Tech with nine RBIs, two home runs and two doubles.

In the series opener against Tech, he collected three hits and three RBIs, including the game-winning two-RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Braun went 1-for-3 with an RBI in game two on Saturday as UM cruised to a 13-8 win. Braun paced Miami’s outburst on Sunday with a 3-for-5 performance, including a tape-measure three-run home run to left field in the third inning. His five RBIs on Sunday was a career high.

The National Pitcher of the Week went to UNLV freshman right-hander Matt Luca.He tossed the first-ever no-hitter in Mountain West Conference history and the first by a UNLV pitcher since 1990 in a 5-0 win over San Diego State on March 28. He tallied a career-high 11 strikeouts and walked just two in picking up his second collegiate victory.

Miami returns to action on Wednesday with 17th-ranked Florida Atlantic visiting Mark Light Field for a 7 p.m. first pitch.