NORTHFIELD, Vt. – After helping to lead
the Norwich University baseball team to three conference victories
last weekend, Rob Knox and Dustin Shimkus were recognized by the
Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) with weekly awards on
Tuesday.
Knox, who authored the best week of his career, was selected as
the conference's “Player of the Week” after
batting .652 (15-for-23) with a slugging percentage of 1.261. The
senior catcher, who extended his hit streak to 12 consecutive
games, belted six doubles, one triple and two home runs to go along
with 13 RBIs and eight runs scored.
Knox went 7-for-7 with eight RBIs and three runs scored as
Norwich swept Albertus Magnus for the first time in more than six
years on Saturday afternoon. He continued his torrid hitting on
Sunday afternoon, going 4-for-5 with four RBIs and five runs scored
as NU split its conference doubleheader at Rivier.
For the season, Knox leads the team in batting average (.432),
slugging percentage (.689), total bases (51) and RBIs (18). The
Conway, N.H., native is just two hits shy of 100 for his career.
Shimkus, meanwhile, led all Norwich rookies with a .400 batting
average in the team's seven games last week en route to being
tabbed the league's “Rookie of the Week” for the
first time. The freshman outfielder ripped three doubles and one
triple, while driving in three runs and scoring eight. He posted a
slugging percentage of .600 for the week.
The Collinsville, Ill., product ranks second on the team in
batting average (.354) and slugging percentage (.524). He also
lists among the team leaders in doubles (nine), RBIs (14) and runs
scored (14).
Norwich (5-19, 4-6 GNAC) has vaulted into a tie for sixth place
in the GNAC standings following last weekend's action, and
the Cadets are closing in on earning their first trip to the
conference tournament since 2005.
The Cadets return to action later today (April 13), when they
host in-state rival Lyndon State College in a non-league
doubleheader at Garrity Field. First pitch for the opening game is
set for 2 p.m.
