WINTHROP, Mass. - Following a pivotal week that helped the Norwich University baseball team secure a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Tournament berth, junior right-hander
Carson Rath (Glens Falls, N.Y.) has been named GNAC Pitcher of the Week for the second straight week, while senior outfielder
Geffen Franus (Leesburg, Va.) earned a spot on the GNAC Weekly Honor Roll for the second consecutive week, as announced by the league office on Monday afternoon.
Rath delivered another strong week on the mound, highlighted by a complete-game victory in Norwich's must-win GNAC matchup against New England College on Saturday afternoon. The junior tossed all seven innings in the Cadets' 6-1 Senior Day win, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out 11 to help Norwich open the doubleheader with a critical victory.
Across the week, Rath made three appearances and logged 17.0 innings, posting a 2.65 earned run average with 19 strikeouts and a 1.12 WHIP while holding opponents to a .206 batting average.
In addition to his complete-game win over New England College, Rath also went the distance against Dean College earlier in the week, allowing four runs, three earned, while striking out six over six innings. He later added four innings of relief in the 13-inning nightcap against the Bulldogs, continuing to shoulder a major workload for the Cadets during a busy stretch of conference and non-conference play.
Franus, meanwhile, powered the Norwich offense during a 2-4 week, batting .393 with 11 hits, 11 RBIs, nine runs scored, two doubles, one triple, and six stolen bases across six games.
The senior outfielder produced several key performances throughout the stretch, including a four-RBI effort in Norwich's midweek matchup against St. Lawrence University and a 4-for-5, five-RBI showing against Vermont State University Castleton. He also added two hits and scored three runs in Norwich's pivotal Senior Day victory over New England College, helping the Cadets complete a doubleheader sweep that clinched a GNAC Tournament berth.
Franus finished the week with a .452 on-base percentage and a .536 slugging percentage while remaining perfect defensively, committing no errors in the outfield.
Together, Rath's work on the mound and Franus' production at the plate helped Norwich close the GNAC regular season with one of its most important days of the spring, as the Cadets swept New England College by scores of 6-1 and 15-13 to keep their postseason hopes alive and secure a spot in the conference tournament.
Norwich will return to action on Friday, May 1, traveling to #3 Saint Joseph's College of Maine for the fist day of pod play of the GNAC Tournament. Opening pitch is set for 1:30 p.m.
