Jurich Earns National Player of the Week Honor
March 11, 2002 | Baseball
March 11, 2002
LOUISVILLE, KY- Louisville Cardinal right fielder Mark Jurich has been named by Collegiate Baseball as one of its Louisville Slugger's National Players of the Week, as well as Conference USA Hitter of the Week.
Jurich, a sophomore from Ballard High School in Louisville, was 6 for 12 in three games with five home runs, a double, two walks and 10 RBI. He also had 22 total bases and a 1.833 slugging percentage.
On Wednesday in the Cardinals 16-1 win over Eastern Kentucky, he was 2 for 4 with home runs in his first two at-bats, driving in four and scoring three times.
In the 14-7 win over Kent on Friday, he was 2 for 5 with three RBI and two runs, blasting a three-run home run in the fourth inning. In both of the games, Jurich drove in the winning runs.
In a Sunday loss to Illinois, Jurich homered again in his first two at-bats, going deep on defending Big 10 Pitcher of the Year Andy Dickinson, also a lefty. In his third at-bat Jurich reached on an error, but was forced to leave the game after turning his ankle. He is day-to-day. His first home run gave the Cards a 2-1 lead, and he extended the margin to 3-1 with his second bomb.
Jurich is leading Conference USA in average (.486), on base % (.525), slugging % (1.257) and triples (3). He also leads the Cards in home runs (6), RBI (18) and total bases (44).
Last season he was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team as well as honorable mention on the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team. In the 2001 campaign, he hit .274 with 13 doubles and tied for the team lead with seven home runs.
Earlier this season, Cardinal pitcher Mike Tisdale was named C-USA Pitcher of the Week.
The last time a Cardinal was named conference player of the week was May 17, 1999 when catcher James McAuley earned the honor.
Jurich shares the weekly Collegiate Baseball award with four other players.
Louisville (7-3) will host Cleveland State (0-9)for games Tuesday and Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. at Cardinal Stadium. Admission is free and audio broadcasts of the games are available on line at www.uoflsports.com.
