West Texas A&M and Angelo State top the Lone Star Conference baseball standings. WT split with Abilene Christian, while ASU used a four-game sweep of Eastern New Mexico to gain ground. Texas A&M-Kingsville sits a game back after going 2-2 versus Cameron. Incarnate Word and Tarleton State split its series last week.
This week’s schedule includes midweek non-conference games, followed by a full schedule of conference action. Each LSC series includes a 9-inning game Friday, a 7x7 doubleheader Saturday and 9-inning contest Sunday.
The overall LSC Champion will be the team(s) with the best winning percentage in regular-season conference games, while the winner of the postseason championship will be recognized as LSC Tournament Champion and receive the league’s automatic qualification into the NCAA postseason. The championship will be played May 5-8 in San Angelo, Texas.
LSC baseball teams are 149-118 overall this season. In the NCAA South Central Region, the LSC is currently 38-31 overall including 16-15 combined versus Heartland Conference teams, 20-15 opposed to the Great American Conference and 2-1 against the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA).
DIAMOND PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
HITTERS
Cameron Dullnig, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, SR, OF/P, San Antonio, Texas, Clark HS
Dullnig extended his hitting streak to nine games last week and raised his season batting average from .269 to .333. He opened the week by going 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI and a double in a 6-5 win at St. Edward’s. He came back over the weekend with a trio of three-hit performances against Cameron. He was 3-for-3 with a run and three RBI’s in an 11-3 win in the series opener. He finished the week 12-for-21 at the plate with five RBI’s in a 3-2 week for the Javelinas.
Derrick Walls, University of the Incarnate Word, SO, Right Field, San Antonio, Texas, Reagan HS
Walls hit 9-for-17 over four games against Tarleton State this weekend, including being just a home run shy of the cycle in game two of Friday’s doubleheader (a game where he was 4-for-6 with 3 RBI and 2 runs scored). In his 17 at-bats, he struck out just twice and was able to score four runs out of his nine hits and two walks (11 chances on-base).
PITCHERS
Denver Diefenbach, Texas A&M University - Kingsville, SO, P, Victoria, Texas, St. Joseph’s HS
Diefenbach missed all of 2011 with an arm injury, but appears to be back after an outstanding week in relief. He opened the week by pitching 4.2 innings of relief at St. Edward’s allowing just one run in the process to earn his first win of the season. Over the weekend, he was nearly unhittable in three appearances against Cameron. He pitched a total of 5.1 innings against CU allowing one hit and two walks while striking out four. He pitched a scoreless 12th inning in the final game of the series in an eventual 3-2 win. He held the opposition to a .206 batting average for the week.
Marc Gomez, University of the Incarnate Word, SR, LHP, Corpus Christi, Texas, Moody HS
Gomez pitched another complete game for a victory on Saturday for the Cardinals, going 7.0 innings in the first game of a doubleheader and holding the visiting Texans from Tarleton State to just 2 runs (both earned) to help his team get the 3-2 win. The Corpus Christi-native limited the Texans to just three hits all game (a 0.142 batting average-against) and struck out seven opponents. He only walked one batter while pitching his third complete game of the year.