DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) released its Dick Howser Trophy National Player of the Week awards presented by The Game Headwear for the period ending April 21. FIU senior outfielder Armando Becerra and Oregon junior first baseman/outfielder Jacob Walsh were named National Co-Hitters of the Week, while LSU redshirt sophomore left-handed pitcher Gage Jump was named National Pitcher of the Week. The NCBWA Board reviews candidates from each Division I Conference and names winners each Tuesday throughout the season.
Becerra had an outstanding week for FIU, going 10-for-18 (.556) with three homers, a triple, three doubles, seven runs scored and nine RBI, leading the Panthers to a 4-0 mark. The Hialeah, Florida, native’s weekend was highlighted by hitting for the cycle in Saturday’s 18-12 win at New Mexico State.
It marks the second time this season a CUSA player has hit for the cycle and the first time a Panther has done so since 1980. The senior outfielder went 5-for-6 on the afternoon with seven RBI. Becerra blasted a homer in each of the three wins at NM State and boosted his batting average to .348 on the season.
Walsh had a monster week for the Ducks slashing .706/.750/.1.647 in leading Oregon to a 2-2 record. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native went 12-for-17 in Oregon's four games with eight of his 12 hits going for extra bases (four home runs, four doubles). The Ducks’ first baseman had multiple hits in all four games with a four-hit game and two three-hit games.
He drove in eight runs with four in a win over Gonzaga and two in a win over Stanford on Saturday. Walsh homered in three consecutive games, running his Oregon career record total to 38 home runs, which included his fifth career two-home run game against Gonzaga.
Jump fired a seven-inning complete game on Friday to lead LSU to a series-opening win at Missouri. He limited Mizzou to one run on three hits with one walk and a career-high 14 strikeouts.
A product of Aliso, California, he threw 98 pitches in the outing, 65 for strikes, and he retired 12 of the final 13 batters he faced, including 10 by strikeout. His 14 strikeouts marked the most by an LSU pitcher since Ty Floyd recorded 17 versus Florida last June in the College World Series.
Jump’s seven-inning complete game was the first by an LSU pitcher since Paul Skenes posted a seven-inning complete-game win over Mississippi State on May 13, 2023.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. For more information about the NCBWA, visit the association's official Web site, www.ncbwa.com. For more information, contact NCBWA Executive Associate Director Mike Montoro (304-293-2821, mike.montoro@mail.wvu.edu).