April 4, 2011

GREENSBORO, N.C. – After hitting .750 and producing his team-leading fourth home run in helping the University of Miami to a perfect 3-0 week, junior infielder Rony Rodriguez has been selected as the Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Co-Player of the Week for the week of March 28 – April 3. He shares the award with Clemson infielder Richie Shaffer.
On the week, Miami defeated Florida Gulf Coast and Boston College, respectively.
Rodriguez, who started all three games last week for the Hurricanes at first base, led Miami in batting average with a .750 clip, producing six hits in eight official at-bats – including two walks and scoring seven runs. His 80.0 percent on-base percentage is the best for any Hurricanes performer in a week at this point on the campaign.
The Sunset High alum and former Miami Dade College product, now in his second year as a UMiami student-athlete, helped keep the Hurricanes perfect on the road in ACC play at 5-0 – using a doubleheader sweep of Boston College on Sunday in 19-4 and 7-6 (5 innings) wins in Chestnut Hill, Mass. His slugging percentage for the week was 1.125, and he was perfect defensively with 14 putouts and an assist, all coming at the first base position.
Against BC, Rodriguez was 2-for-2 with three runs scored and two walks in the doubleheader opener, only to follow with a 2-for-3 performance in the nightcap – registering a solo home run in the fifth, which proved to be the game-winning RBI for the 7-6 decision in the curfew rule enforced five inning affair.
For the season, Rodriguez leads the `Canes in several categories, including batting average (.305) and home runs (4).
Virginia pitcher Will Roberts was named the league’s Pitcher of the Week after tossing a perfect game in the Cavaliers’ 2-0 shutout of visiting George Washington on March 29.
Miami gets back to the field on Wednesday, April 6, traveling to Fort Myers, Fla., to battle the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles for the third time in as many weeks. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
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