May 11, 2009

ST. LOUIS - After enjoying a huge weekend at the plate to help Saint Louis to a series sweep at Temple, junior catcher Ben Braaten has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference's baseball Player of the Week for the period ending May 10, as announced Monday by the league office.

Braaten hit a sizzling .818 (9-for-11) in the series and led the team with eight RBIs. He also hit a pair of key home runs, scored six runs and walked twice. Braaten recorded just one out in 15 plate appearances during the weekend.

In Friday's series opener, Braaten set the tone for the weekend with a first-inning, three-run homer to put the Billikens on top. He added a pair of singles, a double and a walk in the 12-11 Billiken victory.

On Saturday, Braaten reached base in his first three plate appearances. He drew a walk in his first at bat, was hit by a pitch in his second and stroked an RBI double in the sixth inning. In the Billikens' seven-run ninth-inning rally, Braaten came through in the clutch with a two-run single that put the Billikens ahead, eventually allowing them to cruise to the 11-7 victory.

Braaten capped his productive weekend with a 3-for-4 performance Sunday. He belted a two-run homer in the second inning to extend SLU's lead and singled twice in the game. He was also hit by a pitch and reached on an error as the Billikens completed the series sweep at Temple with a 12-3 victory.

Braaten has moved to second on the squad in hitting with a .346 average and is tied for second with seven homers. He leads the A-10 and ranks in the top 10 nationally with 47 walks, a total that ranks second all-time in a single season at SLU.

Braaten and the Billikens have a busy week with five games in five days as they close the regular season. Action begins Tuesday when the Billikens host Southern Illinois Carbondale at The Billiken Sports Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m. The Billikens then travel to Sauget, Ill., to face SIU Edwardsville at GCS Ballpark in another 7 p.m. start. Rhode Island comes to town for a three-game A-10 series beginning Thursday in a 7 p.m. start at The BSC.