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April 11, 2005

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Dusty Bensko, Illinois 
SR, 1B, Pleasant Plains, Ill./Pleasant Plains
Bensko drove in an incredible 17 runs in six games last week as he batted .478 (11-of-23) and added nine runs scored to become the second straight Illini to pick up Big Ten Player of the Week accolades. The senior first baseman produced three home runs, two doubles and four walks to register a slugging percentage of .947 and an on-base percentage of .556. The Illinois-native collected nine RBI and four runs to lead his team to three victories in four road games at Michigan State as the Illini improved to 7-1 in Big Ten play to remain tied atop the League standings. Bensko, who leads the Conference with eight home runs and is tied for second with 36 RBI, joins teammate Drew Davidson (April 4) as a weekly Conference honoree this season

CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK

Tim Gudex, Iowa 
JR, P, Appleton, Wis./North
Gudex picked up three saves on the road at Ann Arbor during a 3-1 weekend to earn a share of Big Ten Pitcher of the Week honors. The junior reliever opened the week with 1 1/3 shutout innings and a strikeout against No. 4 Nebraska before striking out three batters in four total innings of work against the Wolverines. He is the first Hawkeye hurler to be honored this season.

Alan Stidfole, Penn State 
JR, LHP, New Bloomfield, Pa./Susquenita
Stidfole struck out a career-best 13 batters against only one walk at Northwestern and pitched his second straight nine-inning shutout in League play to collect a share of Big Ten Pitcher of the Week laurels for the second time this season. The junior lefthander scattered four hits to help the visiting Nittany Lions take three of four games on the weekend. Stidfole, who was also named Co-Pitcher of the Week on March 28, extended his career-long scoreless inning streak to 30 innings.