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Third baseman Troy White’s hot bat gathers MAC West Division Player of the Week honor

March 1, 2011
Troy White

Troy White

Northern Illinois third baseman Troy White was named Mid-American Conference West Division Player of the Week, the league announced Tuesday. 

To earn the honor for the first time in his career, White’s bat caught fire for the Huskies in Texas over the weekend as he hit .500 (9-for-18) with four extra base hits, RBI and runs scored in NIU’s four games.

“Troy had an outstanding weekend,” said NIU head coach Ed Mathey, who has now had 12 hitters and 12 pitchers take home the weekly conference honor since 2003. “He hit the ball around the yard well, used the entire field. He also played a solid third base for us. This is a good indication of what Troy is capable of. NIU baseball is very happy and proud of Troy White.”

Compiling a .833 slugging percentage and .500 on-base percentage, White started the week with a 2-for-4 performance against Brigham Young with one run scored.

In the second game versus BYU, the junior tied a career high with four hits in five at-bats, one of which was a double, and had an RBI and run scored. White’s weekend was highlighted by going 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored versus Texas Tech in the last game of the trip. All three of his hits went for extra bases, totaling a career-best two triples and one double to become the first Huskie to knock a pair of three-baggers since 2009. 

Not only did the Chicago native’s superb weekend earn him recognition by the MAC, it also resulted in an All-Tournament selection at the Brooks Wallace Memorial Classic, which was held in Lubbock at Texas Tech’s Dan Law Field.

White currently leads the Huskies in hits (10), runs scored (5), extra base hits (4) and slugging percentage (.615).

White and the Huskies hit the field again this weekend as they head west for the third straight week. NIU will face four opponents in four days at the Spring Training home of the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers in Surprise, Ariz., The Huskies begin against Air Force at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 3.

For more information on NIU baseball and Huskie athletics, visit www.niuhuskies.com.