PISCATAWAY, N.J. – After posting seven hits last weekend, including a game-winning grand slam,
Jordan Sweeney represents Rutgers baseball as the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, the league announced Wednesday. Sweeney becomes the third Scarlet Knight to earn the honor this season, joining
Josh Rodriguez (
March 16) and
Ryan Lasko (
March 30).
"Let's go back two weeks ago when the Ohio State closer hit him the face with a 95-mile per hour fastball. We weren't sure Jordan was going to be around to play," head coach
Steve Owens said. "Just shows you the toughness of this kid, he played the next weekend with a plastic mask and metal cage and still did well. He's feeling better now and more comfortable playing with the extra protection. He had a super weekend for us. He's maturing, a very coachable young man, humble, works hard and is big and strong. The ball really jumps from his bat. And he has improved his defense. Just a joy to be around."
With the Scarlet Knights trailing 4-2 to Penn State on Sunday in the bottom of the eighth with one out and bases loaded, Sweeney attacked the first pitch to grand-slam to right-center. The slam, RU's fifth of the season, proved to be the difference in a 6-4 victory.
That capped a 7-for-12 (.583) series that included a pair of 3-for-4 performances, four extra-base hits (two doubles and two homers) and five RBIs. The first baseman also handled 27 chances in the field without an error.
For the season, Sweeney is slashing .317/.353/.717. The slugging percentage ranks sixth in the Big Ten, while his 22 RBIs are tied for third-most and six homers currently place tied for sixth.
Rutgers (9-8) is on the road this weekend to face Northwestern (10-8) in a three-game series starting Friday. The Scarlet Knights' nine Big Ten wins matches the program's high for a season, previously done in 23 games in 2019 and in 24 in 2016.
Big Ten Weekly Awards (April 7)
PL: Zach Dezenzo, Jr., OSU
P: Seth Lonsway, Jr., OSU
F:
Jordan Sweeney, Fr., RU
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