Olivet sweeps MIAA Athlete of the Week awards for baseball

FREELAND, Mich. – The Olivet College baseball team has swept the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) Athlete of the Week awards for the first week of the 2018 season. Freshman Junior Gomez has been tabbed the Pitcher of the Week, and sophomore Zac Walter has been selected the Pitcher of the Week.

Gomez and Walter played key roles in helping the Comets beat University of Wis.-Platteville, 7-6, in extra innings at the Derby City Classic in Louisville, Kentucky. Gomez entered the game as a defensive replacement following an injury to the starting first baseman. In his first two collegiate at-bats, he hit solo home runs. Both homers broke ties in the eighth and 10th inning. Walter started on the mound and threw six and one-third innings. He allowed three runs (two earned), while striking out five and walking none in the no-decision.

"Junior stepped up big, replacing our injured first baseman," said head coach Andy Merchant. "He also made a couple great plays defensively. Zac pounded the zone, mixed speeds, and got ahead early, throwing 69-of-98 pitches for strikes."

After today's game against Aurora (Ill.) University, the Comets are off until next Wednesday, March 7, when it plays a doubleheader against Anderson (Ind.) University. First pitch at Grand Park in Westfield, Indiana, is slated for 4 p.m.