University of Minnesota Athletics
Welch Named Co-Big Ten Player of the Week
5/8/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
wJunior Scott Welch was named one of last week's co-Big Ten Players of the Week. Welch delivered for his teammates when they needed him the most, this week. The shortstop hit .500 in six games (11-for-22) with eight runs scored and 12 RBI. He ripped three doubles, one triple and his second home run of the season. He slugged .864 and posted an on-base percentage of .560, totaling 19 bases. He also did it in the field, making seven putouts and 18 assists without an error, as the Golden Gophers moved into the top spot in the Big Ten standings and extended their winning streak to a season-long 11 games.
More important than his statistics, however, was Welch's timing. He scored the winning runs in games one and two versus Purdue this weekend, and drove in the winning run in game four. On numerous occasions he battled two-strike counts for hits, he was 8-for-11 (.727) advancing runners, and was a perfect 1.000 with runners in scoring position with two outs.
Welch made play after play at shortstop, robbing hits, ending threats and keeping runners off base. He made three big plays in the final inning of the first three games, including a double-play in game three to kill the Purdue rally. Welch is the fifth Golden Gopher to earn the weekly accolade this season.
First Practice of Fall
Thursday, September 18
Weber Neels Highlights
Wednesday, May 28
Gophers (11) - Michigan State (5) Highlights
Friday, May 16
Gophers (4) - Michigan State (3) Highlights
Thursday, May 15