Alonso Earns Second ACC Player of the Week Honor

April 21, 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 second ever ACC weekly honor and second of the season.

Alonso helped Miami to a 3-1 week and a big series win at No. 2 Florida State as the top-ranked Hurricanes (33-4) improved to 17-2 in the ACC. Against the Seminoles, he hit .556 (8-for-15) with 10 runs scored, nine RBI and homered twice while slugging 1.333 and posting a .714 on-base percentage . In the rubber game of the series, Alonso belted two home runs including his first career grand slam in the third inning. He followed that with a solo home run in the fourth inning driving in five of UM’s 11 runs in an 11-10 win to clinch the series at the second ranked Seminoles.

On the week, Alonso hit .533 slugged 1.267 and owned a .650 on-base percentage. He also added four walks extending his national lead to 45 walks on the season. He now is hitting .380 on the season with 10 doubles and 11 home runs tying for a team-high 42 RBI. In ACC play, Alonso is hitting .373 with nine home runs and 25 RBI, 29 walks and a .593 on-base percentage.

The Hurricanes unanamously took over the top spot in all the major college baseball polls on Monday.

After being on the road the last two weeks, Miami is back at home with four games on its slate. The top-ranked Hurricanes will host FIU on Wednesday at 7 p.m., and then entertain Virginia in a three-game series this weekend.