March 10, 2008

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CORAL GABLES, <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Fla. – Junior first baseman Yonder Alonso was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Week Monday as announced by the league office. It was Alonso’s first ever ACC weekly honor.

 

Alonso helped the Hurricanes finish the week with a 4-0 record including a three-game sweep of BostonCollege in both teams’ conference opener last weekend. In the series against the Eagles, he collected three home runs and drove in six RBI in nine at-bats and also walked five times. He wrapped up the week with a .583 batting average and a total of eight RBI. He also posted a 1.333 slugging percentage and was 2-of-3 in stolen base attempts.

 

In the series opener against BC, he was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and belted his first home run of the season in the seventh inning as Miami homered four times in the seventh to win the opener. In game two, Alonso hit back-to-back home runs in consecutive plate appearances. He had a solo homer in the bottom of the third before launching a three-run blast in the bottom of the fourth. He walked three times in his last seven plate appearances in the series which included an intentional walk.

 

Miami moved up to No. 5 in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll and No. 7 in the Baseball America Poll, both released on Monday.

 

The Hurricanes will play five games this week. UM hosts PennState Tuesday night at 7 p.m. and Maine at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Miami will continue ACC play this weekend when the Hurricanes travel to Raleigh for a three-game series with NC State.