Aaron Luna Earns C-USA Hitter of the Week Award
5/12/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 12, 2008
IRVING, Tex. - Rice junior Aaron Luna was named the Conference USA Hitter of the Week, and Tulane's Shooter Hunt was named the C-USA Pitcher of the Week, the league office announced Monday (May 12) from its headquarters in Irving, Tex.
Luna was the Owls' offensive leader last week to help the team go undefeated in five games and clinch the C-USA regular season championship. He batted a composite .429, collecting nine hits in 21 at bats with two home runs and two doubles for a team-leading .810 slugging percentage. For the week, Luna led the team in RBI (11), scored five runs and stole a base. The standout from Southlake, Tex., also drew two walks and was twice hit by a pitch for a .520 on-base percentage. Over the weekend he was named the most outstanding player of the Silver Glove Trophy Series that included a three-game sweep of crosstown rival Houston.
It's the first time this season for Luna to earn the league's Hitter of the Week award and the fourth time in his career to achieve the honor. This year four Rice players have earned the C-USA hitting accolades a total of five times. Previous winners have been Diego Seastrunk (twice, April 14 and March 5), Adam Zornes (April 21) and Rick Hague (March 24). Owl hurlers Matt Langwell and Ryan Berry earned the C-USA Pitcher of the Week Award on Feb. 25 and April 7, respectively.
Last week Shooter Hunt struck out nine and allowed just one run while scattering five hits and three walks in a 5-4 road victory at East Carolina. He improved to 9-1 on the season and earned the Pitcher of the Week honor for the third time.
The Rice baseball team is 39-11 on the season and has already cliched C-USA's regular season title. The Owls next play at Tulane on Thursday, May 15, to begin a three-game series with the Green Wave. The start time Thursday is set for 6 pm. The teams will then play a split double-header on Friday, May 16, to conclude the regular season. Both games on Friday will be televised around the country by CBS College Sports. Start times are slated for 1 pm and 7 pm.
