April 7, 2008
IRVING, Texas -- Baylor junior left fielder Ben Booker was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Booker was so-honored after helping the Bears to a three-game sweep of Kansas over the weekend. Missouri right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow earned pitcher of the week honors for the second time in three weeks.
A product of Lorena [Texas] High School, Booker hit .625 (10-for-16) on the week with three home runs, 11 RBI, a double, a triple, 22 total bases and a 1.375 slugging percentage. He hit safely in all five games on the week with multiple-hit outings in each of the week's final four games.
Booker came off the bench in the Bears' two midweek games and went 3-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI in those two games. Tuesday at TCU, he produced Baylor's first pinch-hit home run since May 22, 2002; that home run tied the game at 2-2. Wednesday against UTSA, he had a pinch-hit, two-run single and a three-run home run to tie his career high with five RBI.
The torrid week did not slow for Booker on the weekend as he returned to the starting lineup and was 7-for-11 in leading the Bears to a sweep of Kansas. He was 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI in the series opener; followed that with a 3-for-5 outing in the second game, collecting a triple, an RBI and scoring a career-high tying three runs. In the series finale, Booker was 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and three RBI.
Booker is the first Bear to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors since Beamer Weems was so honored March 26, 2007. This marks the third consecutive year in which at least one Bear has earned player of the week honors. Booker is the 14th Baylor player so honored in the league's 12-year history, joining Mike Huggins (three times), Jon Topolski (twice), Charley Carter (twice), Chris Durbin (twice), Josh Ford (twice), Jaime Bubela, Matt Williams, Ross Bennett, Tim Hartshorn, Michael Griffin, Paul Witt, Chase Gerdes and Weems.
Three Bears have earned Big 12 weekly honors this season; Kendal Volz and Shawn Tolleson have both been named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week. Baylor's three weekly awards this season are the most since 2005 when the Bears earned pitcher of the week honors a school-record six times.
Baylor returns to action Tuesday, hosting TCU for a 6:30 p.m. CDT first pitch at Baylor Ballpark. The Bears also host UT Arlington at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to conclude a six-game home stand.
