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May. 2, 2005

BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Jon Mikrut, Northwestern 
SR, SS, Wauconda, Ill./Carmel
Mikrut boosted Northwestern to a 3-1 series victory over third-place Iowa by batting .563 (9-of-16) with six runs scored and six runs batted in to become the third Wildcat to earn Big Ten Player of the Week accolades this season. The senior shortstop also added two walks in the series to produce an on-base percentage of .632 and a slugging percentage of 1.000. After going 1-for-4 with two runs scored in the series-opening triumph, Mikrut produced two or more hits in each of the final three contests. He went 3-for-4 in game two with a pair of doubles and two RBI before going 2-for-3 in game three with a home run, three runs batted in and a pair of runs scored. The Illinois-native wrapped up his weekend with a 3-for-5 effort, including a triple, an RBI and a run. Mikrut joins teammates Max Mann (February 15) and Pat McMahon (February 22) as weekly Conference honorees in

BIG TEN PITCHER OF THE WEEK

Rory Meister, Ohio State 
FR, RHP, Mansfield, Ohio/Mansfield Madison
Meister appeared in relief in five of six games last week, striking out 13 batters in 11 and two-thirds innings and picking up the first two saves of his career against Indiana to nab Big Ten Pitcher of the Week laurels. The freshman righthander allowed no runs and only two hits during the week while walking only two batters. In two mid-week contests with Eastern Michigan, Meister entered the first game with the bases loaded and no outs and struck out the first hitter he faced before forcing a double play. In the second outing, he struck out a career-high five batters in three and two-thirds innings. Against the Hoosiers, he finished game three of the series by retiring the final seven batters he faced before earning his second career save in the finale by preserving a two-run lead. Meister is the second OSU hurler to be named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week this season as teammate Trent Luyster was selected on March 7.